Video of Santa Cruz e-bike cyclist’s arrest stirs controversy
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KRON) — A video circulating online of Santa Cruz police officers surrounding and arresting a bicyclist on West Cliff Drive has stirred up controversy.
In the video, a young Black man can be seen on the sidewalk and heard screaming “Ow! What the f**K? I’m sitting here, why are you hurting me like this? I’m literally sitting down!” at the officers.
The video shows six police officers restraining the man on the ground. One officer can be heard saying, “Stop resisting us.”
On Friday, the Santa Cruz Police Department confirmed that the arrest happened on April 10, and added, “viewing the video may evoke stressful feelings for some individuals.”
SCPD said the man was initially stopped by officers for failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk while he was riding on an electric bicycle. An officer who saw the electric bike stopped him on suspicion of committing a traffic violation.
“The suspect then failed to identify himself and provided false information,” SCPD wrote. “Since the suspect refused to identify himself, the alternative was to be taken into custody. The suspect resisted arrest. He was not injured.”
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The man’s name was not publicly released by law enforcement. He was ultimately booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.
Local residents filed community complaints to the Santa Cruz Police Department about concerns surrounding the incident. Police Chief Bernie Escalante said his police department will conduct a comprehensive investigation, including reviewing officers’ body worn camera videos, and talking to witnesses.
Escalante wrote, “All members of the police department are expected to carry out their duties with dignity and respect within the community we serve.”
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