YouTube video shows Long Beach police repeatedly striking suspect

Long Beach police are defending the actions of officers shown on a video in a violent encounter with a suspect.

Sgt. Aaron Eaton told KTLA-TV that in the incident recorded in the video 46-year-old Porfirio Santos-Lopez was uncooperative when police tried to arrest him near Locust Avenue and South Street in Long Beach on Monday.

“That individual seemed to be irrational. He was combative,� Eaton told KTLA. “In the video that is on YouTube, he can be seen kicking at the officers.�

In the nearly five-minute video (note: vulgar language) Santos-Lopez can be seen lying on his back in the middle of the street surrounded by Long Beach police officers.

Officers then use a Taser on Santos-Lopez and strike him repeatedly in the legs and other parts of his body with batons. At times, Santos-Lopez shouts back, but it’s unclear what he’s saying.

Eaton told reporters Tuesday that officers were trying to get Santos-Lopez onto his stomach but he initially did not cooperate.

Police were sent to the area in response to two 911 calls about Santos-Lopez, Eaton told KNBC-TV.

Another video, taken before police arrived, showed Santos-Lopez arguing with two men and punching one of them, KNBC reported.

Santos-Lopez was eventually arrested. NBC reported that Santos-Lopez admitted to police that he was drunk and high on methamphetamine. He was treated at a hospital for a broken arm and received stitches, KNBC reported.

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