VIDEOTAPED BEATING CAUSES COUNTY SHERIFF INVESTIGATION

A disturbing videotape of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies viciously beating a suspected horse thief near Hesperia has caused County Sheriff John McMahon to order a departmental investigation of the incident. “The video surrounding this arrest is disturbing, and I have ordered an internal investigation be conducted immediately,” McMahon said in a statement. “In addition, members of the Specialized Investigations Detail are responding to conduct the criminal investigation.” The statement came within hours of the arrest of 30-year-old Francis Pusok of Apple Valley. The identity-thief-suspect-turned-horse-thief suspect was arrested during a confrontation with deputies who beat and kicked him for roughly two minutes after Pusok surrendered and was lying face-down on the ground with his hands behind his back, according to television footage broadcast by KNBC. The sheriff’s statement says. “A use-of-force occurred during the arrest. An internal investigation will be conducted regarding the use of force.” Pusok was taken to a hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. Late Thursday, the ACLU released a written statement questioning why “Sheriff’s deputies beat the man after he surrendered, placing his hands behind his back.”