Videos of Gary Christian, a Black man, getting beaten by a Barstow Police Department officer is being circulated on social media. Twitter users are criticising the police department.
The video shows a man, Black, being beaten with a baton during his apparent arrest. TMZ first posted it on their website.
The Entertainment website reported that the incident took place on Friday. One can see the police officer appear to give an order before he starts hitting the man.
After taking four swings, the officer is stopped by his colleagues. The man, who is limping by then, is then handcuffed and taken to the EMTs for a check. He is taken away in a police cruiser.
TMZ, citing Barstow Police Department, said that the man is identified as Gary Christian. He is 43 years old. The office added that Christian was wanted on an open felony warrant for a probation violation on Main Street.
The department added that the officer tried making contact and place the 43-year-old under arrest. However, police add that he attacked the officer twice.
BPD added that the officer unsuccessfully tasered Christian and then used the baton. The Black man was then taken to a hospital for minor contusions to his leg. He is booked into the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept. High Desert Detention Center.
“Look like his hands are in the air, don’t that give you a sign of submission,” a Twitter user reacted to the video.
“Today’s April 29th too. Anniversary of the King verdict and riots. That plainclothed cop pulled up between the camera and the incident. That was no coincidence,” another one added.
“Until black people realise that most white people use us a cheap labor or a way of releasing hidden urges to belittle us we will continue to suffer,” a third one tweeted.
