Cellphone and bodycam video shows Daytona Beach Police officer punching handcuffed man on ground
By: -----
Daytona Beach, FL - A video showing a Daytona Beach police officer straddling a man who was handcuffed on the ground and then punching him several times in the head has sparked an investigation and the officer has been reassigned to administrative duty.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said that based on his concerns, he had "personally" directed that the department's office of professional standards conduct a full review of the incident.
Young said the officer involved, J. Llinas, according to the report, has been placed on administrative assignment pending the outcome.
David L. Anderson, 27, was originally stopped just after midnight March 12 on the corner of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. and Green Street for having an open container of alcohol.
Llinas orders him to pour out the drink. Instead of pouring it out himself the Anderson hands the drink to the Llinas and begins to walk away with his back turned to the officer. The officer rushes up and orders him to get on the ground and pushes him to the ground.
Llinas tells Anderson to put his hands behind his back and warns that he will Taze him.
Anderson asks why he is being arrested. The officer responds for battery when he threw "a cork" at him.
But the body camera video does not appear to show the man throwing anything at the officer.
The video on social media shows Llinas on top of Anderson who is on the ground and handcuffed. Llinas punches Anderson four times in the head.
A non-officer, claiming Anderson is his brother, bends down toward Llinas. Another police officer pulls him away. A third officer, a woman, also helps push the brother away.
Llinas stops and draws what appears to be a Taser and seems to point it at the second man who, is now off the screen, before reholstering the Taser.
A woman in the recording yells "You're Black! What are you doing?" It's unclear to whom she is directing that comment.
Anderson is Black. Llinas is white. Another officer is Black. Another officer is a white woman.
The video then goes on to show Llinas and Anderson going to the ground and the police officer hitting him.
Anderson arrested on a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer and a city ordinance violation of having an open container of alcohol in a public place. He was released on $500 bond.