San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials are promising that an investigation will be launched after aerial footage showed a sheriff's deputy being punched at the end of a pursuit Thursday.
The pursuit, which began after San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to a burglary report at a Rancho Cucamonga home, was westbound on the 210 Freeway in the Azusa area at about 11:15 a.m. The driver of the Lincoln Town Car pulled off the freeway in the Pasadena area.
A Rancho Cucamonga Police Department patrol vehicle collided head-on with a tree at the end of the pursuit.There were no reports of serious injuries to anyone inside the squad car.
Three people were taken into custody shortly after the driver stopped on a street.
Aerial video showed law enforcement personnel striking one of the subjects as he was on the ground, but it was not immediately clear what led up to the use of force. Two law enforcement officers can be seen attempting to subdue the individual, facedown on the street, before a third arrives to assist.
That suspect was identified as Donovan Gardner, 25, of Pasadena. Officials said he was struck when he refused to give up his hands.
One of the subjects was hospitalized. Details regarding the individual's condition were not immediately available.
The two other suspects were identified as James Smith, 24, and Simone King. Both Smith and Gardner are on parole, investigators said.
"I’d like to remind everyone that this was a violent criminal act by criminals that had no regard for anyone’s life both at the house when they initially committed the burglar,y but also on the freeway where they passed hundreds of vehicles in reckless abandon," said Sgt. Phill Dupper of the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department.
