SALINAS (KRON) — According to Salinas police Chief Kelly McMillin, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office will investigate officers’ use of during the arrest of 28-year-old Jose Velasco.
A video posted online shows police repeatedly hitting Velasco with batons.
At a news conference today, McMillan said the video is only a fraction of what happened on Friday evening during the arrest.
“Our policy is to use only the force needed to stop the violence and to make an arrest,” McMillin said.
According to police, a witness reported seeing Velasco slam a woman, later determined to be his mother, to the ground.
Five officers worked to stop Velasco from being combative. Police say Velasco allegedly resisted and attacked the officers, at one point taking a taser that was in a holster attached to an officer.
According to McMillin, the identities of the officers involved have not been released because police fear for their safety given Velasco’s “substantial gang ties”.
McMillin said he understands the “trust issues” between law enforcement and the community and has asked the district attorney’s office to conduct an investigation into the officers’ use of force on Velasco.
Bay City News Source contributed to this report.