Videos show Auburn officer punch man dozens of times during arrest
By: -----
Auburn, WA - An Auburn police officer is on administrative leave pending an investigation into an Oct. 28 encounter that sent the officer and a man to hospitals for evaluation, according to the Auburn Police Department.
Video of the officer beating a man in the roadway quickly circulated on social media. On Thursday, the department released body-worn camera and traffic videos of the incident.
It shows an officer approach a man reportedly running through traffic on Wednesday afternoon. The officer used a Taser on the man before a struggle broke out as the officer attempted to handcuff him.
Video shows the officer punching the man in the head several times before his camera falls off onto the pavement. At least 24 punches in total can be seen or heard on video during the incident.
Three additional officers then arrived on scene to help bring the man under control and handcuff him.
When other officers arrive on scene, a flash of the officer's bloody hand can be seen on video.
"Can you roll my sleeves back up, so I at least look cool?" the officer can be heard asking another on scene.
When the officer describes what happened, he claims the man attempted to grab his gun.
"At one point, I felt him - I think he grabbed my gun," the officer said on video. "Not 100% sure, I think he tried to or did grab at least my holster, so I started just delivering strikes until he stopped."
The victim can also be heard screaming and apologizing after he was handcuffed and as fire personnel tend to him.
The encounter followed reports around 3:15 p.m. of a man running in and out of traffic on Auburn Way North and trying to enter passing vehicles.
According to police, the man did not follow the first officer’s commands.
The man did not appear to have serious injuries but was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, police said. The officer was also taken to a hospital for evaluation.
The department said the officer will remain on administrative leave pending a full investigation.