The Sacramento Police Department is investigating one of their officers’ actions, after video of a brutal beating has left people stunned. Video released by the police, as well as footage recorded by a bystander captured the horrifying incident, that took place when the cop stopped Nandi Cain Jr. According to Sacramento Police, Cain’s alleged offense was “unlawfully crossing the street.”
Police dashcam video showed Cain walking in a residential neighborhood, before police pulled over, and an officer accused him of jaywalking. Cain can be heard saying that he looked both ways, put his hands up, and kept walking, insisting that he didn’t do anything. The officer then threatened to take Cain to the ground if he didn’t stop. Cain can then be seen taking off his jacket and then daring the officer to put his gun away and “fight me like a real man.” That’s when all hell broke loose.
The officer, whose identity is unknown, then grabbed Cain by the throat, threw him to the ground, pummeled him with punches and twisted Cain’s arm behind his back. Another officer quickly drove up and helped the officer keep Cain on the ground until he was cuffed.
Dascham footage can be seen in the clip below, starting at the 0:20 mark. Warning: strong language and violence.
Cain was then charged with resisting arrest. Police dropped the charges on Tuesday after examining the video. “As you can see on the video clearly, I didn’t resist at all,” Cain told KCRA. At the time, he was afraid police might kill him. “I thought I was going to be like the next Trayvon Martin,” he said. “I thought, as soon as they got me on the ground and they start putting my arms in different positions. I felt like they were going to draw a gun out and shoot me in my back or try to break my arms off or something.”
Cain hopes the officer faces repercussions for his actions. “Justice should be served, and I feel like there should be some type of severe consequences,” he said.
Indeed Sacramento Police are looking to make sure justice is indeed served. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending a criminal investigation into his actions. Sgt. Bryce Heinlein described what happened as “a disturbing incident,” telling NBC News, “we don’t condone this behavior with any of our officers.”
[Image via screengrab]
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