Innocent Bystander Beaten up by L.A. Cops During Car Chase Sparks Outrage
An innocent bystander being beaten up and detained by police after trying to avoid a dangerous car chase has caused outrage on social media.
Adrian Cruz, who was driving in his white sedan with his wife and son in tow in Los Angeles on November 9, was hit by a pursuit suspect who allegedly stole a truck.
Cruz was on his way back from work and was sitting at a Hacienda Heights stoplight when the suspect drove down Gale Avenue and South Hacienda Boulevard in a stolen truck, before crashing into him.
A police car then rammed the suspect's vehicle further into Cruz's car.
Cruz saw police cars and exited his via the driver's side door, but deputies surrounded him.
"One of them smashed into my car and immediately started shooting guns," Cruz told Sky9 television channel. "It just sounded crazy, like a war zone."
"I got out of the car immediately," he added. "I don't want my son and my wife to be a part of that. So, as soon as I got out the car, the cops just smashed me, started socking me up, smashing me, threw me in the back like I was the dude that stole the car.
"It did not have to happen that way," Cruz said. "I had nothing to do with it. We were just bystanders getting out of their way. Instead, they went and attacked me, brutally, in front of my family, in front of everybody. That's not right."
He said he was released shortly after being apprehended.
In a statement provided to Newsweek, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said: "The department is aware of the incident regarding the use of force on a motorist at the termination of the pursuit. The use of force is being investigated by our (Norwalk) station and due to such cannot comment further.
"Our department takes these investigations seriously and at the conclusion of the investigation we will provide further information."
Twitter users were repulsed by the story. "Disgusting behavior from cops once again," wrote one Twitter user Jeremiah.
"Yeah that was crazy. steroids, adrenalin and cop mentally = bad combo," posted another user.
Many Twitter users were encouraging Cruz to sue the police, with Wesley posting: "Aren't high speed chases a thing of the past yet? Why is reckless endangerment of citizens still necessary in this digital video age .."
Ani tweeted: "Dude, even the guy that stole the car didn't deserve that treatment. SMDH!"
Daniel wrote: "LA cops are among the worst of the worst. Keep in mind that this is the place with actual police department gangs."
"America, I will type this again. Please stop giving guns, badges, and state authority to violent, incompetent thugs," another tweeted.
The police chase went on for about an hour across Los Angeles and Orange counties on November 9, all broadcast live on local TV.
Correction 11/12/22, 8:25 a.m ET: Newsweek incorrectly implied LAPD was involved in this incident. We regret the error. We have contacted LASD for comment.
Update: 11/13/22, 7:41 a.m. ET: Updated to include statement from LASD.
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