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A cell phone video that shows police officers repeatedly hitting an unarmed university student with batons and a Taser gun has prompted a criminal investigation into the officers’ conduct, a San Jose police spokesman said.

The video, posted by the San Jose Mercury News on its Web site late Saturday, shows one officer hitting 20-year-old Vietnamese student Phuong Ho with a metal baton more than 10 times, including once on the head. Another officer is seen using his Taser gun on the San Jose State math major.

The final baton strike in last month’s incident appears to take place after handcuffs have been attached to Ho’s wrists.

“It takes me back to the day I saw the Rodney King video on TV,” said Roger Clark, a police expert and a retired lieutenant with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

The last baton strike ought to bring a felony charge, Clark said.

Officers arrested Ho on suspicion of assaulting one of his roommates. He was not armed when police arrived and he told the newspaper he didn’t resist arrest.

The confrontation began Sept. 3 when Ho’s roommate, Jeremy Suftin, put soap on Ho’s steak. The two scuffled, and Ho picked up a steak knife, saying that in his home country he would have killed Suftin for doing what he did.

Police were called, and four officers responded.

Officer Kenneth Siegel encountered Ho in the hallway, but couldn’t understand the student’s accent, police reports said. Ho then ignored a police command to stand still, reports said.

CLICK HERE to watch the video.

When Ho tried to follow Siegel into his room, officer Steven Payne Jr. moved to handcuff Ho. Payne wrote in his report that he pushed the student into a wall and then forced him to the floor when he resisted being handcuffed.

Ho, who weighs more than 200 lbs., said his glasses fell off. As he went to pick them up, the officers struck him, he said.

Another one of Ho’s roommates, Dimitri Masouris, captured the events on his cell phone. An officer can be heard on the video shouting, “Turn over!” Ho can be heard moaning and crying as he’s struck.

“In philosophy, they call it ‘dehumanization,’” Ho told the Mercury News. “So when they think me a dangerous guy, they don’t treat me like I was human. They hit me like an animal or something.”

Masouris said he considered the police response excessive. He sold the tape to San Jose lawyer Duyen Hoang Nguyen, who is representing Ho.

The Mercury News obtained a copy of the video and showed it to Daniel Katz, San Jose’s assistant police chief. The police department is taking the matter very seriously, he said.

The city’s large Vietnamese-American community is already angry over the police shooting of a mentally ill Vietnamese man in May, the newspaper said in an editorial about Ho’s beating. The lack of public disclosure in the investigation that followed was also a problem, the paper said.

Police experts said the grainy, shaky video is difficult to view and may not show actions by Ho that justified the officers’ response. Nevertheless, several said the video raises serious concerns.

“Once he is handcuffed, then he is helpless,” said Frank Jordan, a former San Francisco police chief and mayor. “If you can show that his hands are behind his back, and he is handcuffed, that is where you get brutality. That would be excessive force.”

Siegel and Payne didn’t respond to written requests for comment sent through department officials and their union.

CLICK HERE to watch the video.

Tags: Black Students, Police Brutality, Technology
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  • http://www.blackinfo.net/?p=5485 Black Info.Net – African American News Hub | Black Info.Net

    [...] HERE to watch the video. Read more here: Cell Phone Video Shows Police Beating Of Student Related ArticleJUST CURIOUS: Do All Black People Look Alike? Posted in The 411 Tags: nation, [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/wincie/ wincie

    i saw the video and i honestly thought a dog was being dragged acrossed the room. i wouldn’t trust a cop for anything. cops are criminals. cops have not been labels as heros for a long time

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/DaintyJen/ DaintyJen

    sick

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/99karma99/ 99karma99

    The police are just the nerds and fat kids who got picked on in high school. Anyone willing to degrade someone for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON, needs a psychiatrist ASAP…..

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Kountry_Mayne/ Kountry_Mayne

    I dont like cops period. And with all these things happening now and from the past why hasnt the government taken action with this countries police department? police should not only be fired but put in prison as a felon for this kind of behavior.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/maatra/ maatra

    Check out the god damn white man and his lil nigga on blackpowercartel.com

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Stan_Vinyl/ Stan_Vinyl

    That shyt drives me crazy to see someone less capable being tortured by legal bullies!

    The police know better here in Colorado, they arrest and that’s it, because here we fight the f*ck back!

    And YES… WE ALL FIGHT BACK ROUND THIS WAY! I REFUSE TO ALLOW ANYONE TO PUT HANDS ON ME WITHOUT ME STRIKING BACK.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/TheBIgBlackNewsBlog/ TheBIgBlackNewsBlog

    Tax funded terrorism at its best!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Sub-Negro/ Sub-Negro

    POW! POW! POW! Damn that sh!t was loud as hell. Man the cops be on this s**t beatin MF’s ass and gettin away wit it. Dat’s why nobody wanna cooperate with these MF’s.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Tried-N-True/ Tried-N-True

    “Once he is handcuffed, then he is helpless,” said Frank Jordan, a former San Francisco police chief and mayor. “If you can show that his hands are behind his back, and he is handcuffed, that is where you get brutality. That would be excessive force.”

    The above is a bullshyt statement as the majority of people do not nor will not resist the police. It is not until the police engage a person do the police BEGIN SHOUTING, do not resist, do not resist, justifying their actions. They beat the shyt out of that guy as attested by his screams and the sounds. But of course the cops will get off without firing or discipline while the student will be charged and dismissed from school and his life in ruins….

    It’s time we give the cops some of their medicine—Kick their puzzy azzes and they’ll think twice about using a gun and badge to hide behind to let off their aggression on civilians.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/2good2bsingle/ 2good2bsingle

    Tried-N-True.. You said it, my Man!! Sub-Negro, TheBigBlackNewsBlog, Stan-Vinyl, Maatra, Kountry_Mane, 99Carma99, DaintyJen, & Wincie – I COULDN’T AGREE WITH Y’ALL MORE!!! I absolutely LOVE the comments from ya’ll on this one!! ALL of you made wonderful points with what y’all said! I wish that the Jackson/Sharpton Law Firm would get involved with THIS CASE as well, but.. Since this victim is of the Asian persuasion.. It may not happen. Hopefully he and his family can sue the P.D. AND the individual Cops responsible!! Sue their asses to the point that their GRAND-KIDS’ income will be garnished!!! Anyway.. PHUCK a ‘Time For Change’!! This is the Time For A REVOLUTION!!!

    P.S. PHUCK THE POLICE!!!!!!!! >:-O

  • http://www.vnohosting.com/blog/?p=15188 All In One Information » Cell Phone Video Shows Police Beating Of Student | News One

    [...] more from the original source: Cell Phone Video Shows Police Beating Of Student | News One This entry is filed under Police. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/BlackHeartPanther/ BlackHeartPanther

    Well it did seem as if at 1st he was resisting arrest according 2 law. Cause the police order was 2 roll over, on ur belly, which he yelled over & over, but then out of no where the officer starts beating the hell out of this man which did seem odd but he did resist. Finally the man did submit after several of blows the other officer cuffs the man. Then this DIRTY PIG gives this helpless, unarm, defenseless, man another blow & that’s where he went 2 far as the other officer repeatly say Alright! Alright! Alright! Translate: Okay enough! Ladies & Gentlemens the biggest gang in the world F*** the police!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Midwest_Vinyl_Vixen/ Midwest_Vinyl_Vixen

    I couldn’t continue watching the video it was so horrid. FUK THE POLICE TO THE MAX FOR THIS SHID!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/gren1shaw2/ gren1shaw2

    Police dept.s are legal and the most powerful gangs in america.they are the largest gangs in the country.their actions are unprovoked,murders,beatings, torture,persecution and anything else their deviant minds can come up with.their victims,men,women and children nothing makes you safe from their power drunk actions.they as evil as any human can be.their free to violate everyones rights and accountable to no one.most sent into black and latino neighborhoods to do as much damage as possible.and just like all other gangbangers they feel they have the right to do whatever they want because they have the numbers and no one can or will stop them.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Y_HATE_ON_U/ Y_HATE_ON_U

    WHO’S IDEA WAS IT TO HAVE POLICE??? FU CK THEM, THEY ARE THE MOST CROOKED BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE LAW STANDS BY THEIR SIDE MOST OF THE TIME. IT’S SAD, BUT LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, “THEY HAVE TO ANSWER TO SOMEONE BIGGER WHEN THEY LEAVE THIS EARTH”. I FEEL FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER BEEN SUBMITTED TO POLICE BRUTALITY.

  • http://newsone.com/nation/police-kill-man-wound-another-during-brooklyn-bar-fight/ Police Kill Man & Wound Another During Brooklyn Bar Fight | News One

    [...] Cell Phone Video Shows Police Beating Of Student [...]

  • http://www.blackinfo.net/?p=9033 Black Info.Net – African American News Hub | Black Info.Net

    [...] Cell Phone Video Shows Police Beating Of Student [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/departures19/ departures19

    alert………… every body whos owes a cell phone heres a tactic we can all use when we see police making arrests film it on the down low and put it up on utube .. this way the world sees how they do therere job… if we get enough aspects of what wrongs they do may be the feds will start policing the policE and prosecute them when they are wrong.. JUST A IDEA ….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Lifter/ Lifter

    If Cops are all criminals, crooked, fat kids that got picked on, nerds, and all of the things that are posted here, THEN WHAT DO YOU CALL THE BABY FATHERS ON HERE THAT BEAT THE H*LL OUT OF THEIR BABY MOMMAS? WHAT DO YOU CALL THE YOUNG BLACK WOMEN WHO SLICE EACH OTHER FACES OVER MEN? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BLACK MEN THAT ARE RAPING AND BEATING BLACK WOMEN WHILE WORSHIPING THE WHITE WOMAN THAT THEY HAVE ON THE SIDE LIKE SHE IS THEIR GODDESS?

    Most of the posts here make no sense at all and is just anger being expressed.

    Departures19 – your post makes a lot of sense and is one of the few to say something useful – you suggested a solution.

    Y_Hate_On_You – you were almost there when you referenced the law.

    PEOPLE – TURN OFF THE D*MN TV, PLAYSTATION, AND MUSIC AND EDUCATE YOURSELVES ABOUT THE LAW. That is the most powerful weapon that you have. In your city, you can do a Public Records request and get the Police Department’s Use of Force policy. And if you read it, wouldn’t that put you in a position to FIGHT AGAINST ABUSE? That will do a whole lot more to stop Police abuse than spitting venom while hiding behind a screen name. When you see the Police involved with a situation – CHECK YOUR BEHAVIOR, KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF AND WATCH WHAT THEY DO – USE THOSE CELLPHONES TO RECORD FROM A SAFE DISTANCE. No Police Officer would dare abuse someone with calm, educated, concerned citizens watching them. Period.

    For those on this forum who don’t know – THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT POLICE OFFICERS GET AWAY WITH ABUSING PEOPLE IS THAT PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO GET INVOLVED. PEOPLE WON’T BE WITNESSES AND TELL WHAT THEY OBSERVED. THE TRUTH IS VERY POWERFUL. I investigated Police Misconduct for 8 years of my life and the number one reason that officers get away with it is that people refuse to be competent witnesses.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Lifter/ Lifter

    Now I watched the video and these cops were wrong! The student did not do anything that warranted a baton strike. None of the officers attempted to apply PPCT (Pressure Point Control Techniques) to turn him over. The baton itself can be used as a lever to turn a suspect over or direct their actions. The officers are not allowed (unless they have the worst Use of Force Policy in the history of Law Enforcement) to beat a suspect into compliance. I taught baton techniques and reviewed Use of Force incidents. So I am going to follow this case to see where it goes. The student’s attorney should have no problem finding Use of Force experts to testify regarding the way the officers behaved. But not all cases are as easy as this one to evaluate. And the only thing that would save the officers would be if their actions are supported by their Use of Force policy. That is why we have to educate ourselves.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/cg30034/ cg30034

    It is so sad that the ignorance of the law and laws carry into all aspects of the
    Constitution and its amendments one Amendment XIV (1868) SECTION 1.All persons born or naturalized in the United States,and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,are citizens of the U.S. and of the State wherein they reside.No State shall make or enforce any law which shall [(abridge)to reduce or dimminish ]the privileges or immunities of citizens of the U.S.;nor shall any State deprive any persons of life, liberity, or property,without due process of law;nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS.

    Use the evidence: (people standing around photos)past incidents of the officer ect..(videos) sue the cop, sue the city but only after a quest for correction from the bottom up : contact a civil rights lawyer, It seems as if the girl that was hit in the mouth was watching her cousin being mistreated with calm from the sideline,togetherness seems to be a problem with some people as a group that it is know and proven that strength is in numbers:1960-2010 when will it end when we as a people get tired,as always the black, white, and all others must get tired of this(****)

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/cg30034/ cg30034

    After my second -fifth review,it seems as if the officer was wrong for not calling for backup and that he was wrong for hitting the girl in the mouth the girl who was not being cuffed/arressed and alowed to roam, that could put his life in danger.
    As for the girl being arrested it is not clear of the reason the officer was at her in the first place:( probable Cause)more than a bare supicion covered under the fourth Amendment.

    And the girl in the orange is being verbally detained and more so trusted by the officer.

    It seems to me that all the evidence must be reviewed and all ststements before a cause can be known.
    As an x Public Safety Officer I do know that the cop needs more training and that he should have called for back up and if he did he needs to leave that department cause it is a matter of time and he will be killed.

    officer needs help, officer down, will get the response of the police, fire, medical, FBI, ect,,,,

    I cannot prejudge without all the fact but as it seems, the punch in the face warrants punitive damages for assault.

    I will follow up on this one.

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