The Long Beach beating on Monday began after police officers were called to a fighting scene in front of a Long Beach liquor store. The fight had started over a beer can outside the liquor store and involved suspect 46-year-old Porfirio Santos Lopez throwing punches toward a group of men.
What began with punches, turned into an unbearable beating in front of the Long Beach liquor store.
As can be seen in the Long Beach beating video taken by an eye witness, one police officer continuously tasers the man who is already on the ground helpless on his back while another police officer beats him with a police baton. A fourth Long Beach police officer joins in and also uses a police baton on the man on the ground.
“Santos Lopez was beaten with a police baton at least six times while on the ground. Officers ordered him repeatedly to get on his stomach, but he refused, leading to even more tasing.”
The Long Beach tasering and beating continued until a fifth, sixth, seventh, eight, and so forth police officer arrived. During the next three minutes, while putting their gloves on, the man lies in agony on the street surrounded by Long Beach police officers.
Witnesses can be heard on the video saying that “there is nothing we can do.”
"It was way too much. I felt like he was drunk, so they could have easily gotten him down as many of them as there were," said witness Mycalneisha Jackson.
One woman, who didn't want to be identified, shot a cellphone video of the incident and said she thinks the officers abused their power.
According to suspect Porfirio Santos Lopez’ family, Porfirio Santos Lopez is at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center with broken bones, cuts, and a collapsed lung.
Porfirio Santos Lopez is expected to face charges for resisting arrest and battery. His wife, Lee Ann Hernandez, said that “she and her husband have called authorities for help with his undiagnosed mental illness for months. They're supposed to help us, not hurt us.”
"I keep telling the police he needs help, he needs help, he needs help and they wouldn't do anything. And they turn around and beat him for nothing. That's not right," she said.
“He needs help because he hears people talking and he sees people, and he knows that,” she said.
“Police say the responding officers didn't know about Santos Lopez's undiagnosed mental condition at the time of the incident. The officers remain on active duty as the investigation continues.”
