An NBC News helicopter captured video of deputies kicking and punching a man on Thursday while taking him into custody after a three-hour pursuit in the high desert of Southern California.
On the video, San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies can be seen using a Taser to stun Francis Pusok when he fell off the horse and kicked and punched him after it appears he was trying to surrender lying on the ground with his hands behind his back.
Below is a timeline of events that prompted 10 deputies to be put on paid leave while the San Bernardino County Sheriff conducts an internal investigation and the FBI opens a federal civil rights inquiry.
Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 12:12 p.m.: Pusok, 30, of Apple Valley, leads deputies on a chase after authorities tried to serve a search warrant related to an ID theft investigation at a home in unincorporated Apple Valley. Over three hours and across three high-desert communities, Pusok tries to evade deputies in a car, on foot and on a horse that he stole from a group of people near Deep Creek Hot Springs with deputies in pursuit on foot, on off-road vehicles and in helicopters. More ...
Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 2:49 p.m.: An NBC News helicopter captures video of deputies taking Pusok into custody. Pusok and three deputies are hospitalized. More ...
Friday, April 10, 2015: Pusok faces charges including, theft of a horse, and possession of stolen property, said Sheriff John McMahon.
Friday, April 10, 2015: Ten deputies are put on paid administrative leave after McMahon orders an immediate internal investigation into the their actions during the arrest. "I assure you that if there's any criminal wrongdoing on the part of any of our deputy sheriffs or any policy violations, we will take action," he says. More ...
Friday, April 10, 2015: The FBI opens an investigation to determine whether civil rights were violated during the arrest involving Pusok and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies. The results of the review will be forwarded to the United States Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, and the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, in Washington, D.C., to determine whether further investigation and/or prosecution is warranted. More ...
Friday, April 10, 2015: Pusok’s mother, Anne Clemenson, says the deputies who beat her son acted like they were on a "joyride." "To me, it was like a joy ride for the cops to do this to him. (It was) brutality. He didn't deserve something like that. To Tase him, the beatings that I see them doing to him — it's uncalled for. You see him laying down, and they continue to kick him, hitting him and punching him. Why?" More ...
Sunday, April 12: Francis Pusok leaves West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after posting bail at 6:54 p.m. More ...
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Monday, April 13: Pusok’s scheduled arraignment is postponed to June 16.
Monday, April 13: Pusok tells NBC4 he feared for his life and struggled for air as deputies repeatedly stunned him with Tasers and delivered a barrage of kicks and punches. More ...
Monday, April 13: Pusok claims he ran away because of previous beatings he has received from lawmen. More ...
Tuesday, April 21, 2015: A man beaten by sheriff's deputies during an arrest after a horseback pursuit in the high desert northeast of Los Angeles has settled a case with San Bernardino County for $650,000. More ...
Monday, May 11, 2015: The San Bernardino County Sherif's Department releases the names of the 10 deputies being investigated in the beating. More ...
Thursday May 28, 2015: Pusok is charged in connection with the April pursuit. The charges involve evading an officer in a motor vehicle, stealing a horse and cruelly overriding it and being under the influence of marijuana and amphetamine. More ...
