LAPD investigates video showing police officer beating handcuffed man

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating an LAPD officer who was seen beating a handcuffed man in a video that has now been shared online; the incident sparked calls for the officer to be criminally charged.

Authorities said the altercation occurred Sunday at the Southeast Police Department, which covers a 10-square-mile area in the Watts area.

In a brief statement on social media site X, the department confirmed the incident was under investigation and said the officer involved had been “removed from field duties.” The officer’s name was not provided.

The department said the incident began during a traffic stop but did not provide further details about what preceded the shooting.

A video posted online by a bystander shows two police officers struggling with a larger man, whose hands are handcuffed behind his back with two sets of handcuffs, standing next to an LAPD patrol car. The man did not appear to be struggling with the officers and could be heard asking loudly, “What did I do?” shortly before one of the officers suddenly reaches back and punches him in the chin. The man seemed unfazed by the blow.

The blow drew loud cries of condemnation from several bystanders off camera. They can be heard demanding to know why the blow was delivered.

“You are resisting arrest,” one of the officers is heard saying as they lead the man away.

“No, I’m not,” the man replies.

As the footage made the rounds online, a coalition of Los Angeles civil rights leaders and organizations called on Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón to immediately file charges against the unnamed LAPD officer.

“It’s shocking that this officer would attack a handcuffed man who is already handcuffed. This is not resistance. It’s like they haven’t learned anything since the beating of Rodney King, which was also caught on video,” said Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope. “He doesn’t deserve to be on duty. He deserves to be handcuffed in a jail cell.”

Ali said the incident occurred in the 1700 block of East 113th Street in Watts, several blocks east of the Nickerson Gardens housing development.