New York police beat young man during arrest

The New York City Police Department officers are once again under investigation for brutally beating a man during an arrest.

Santiago Hernandez said he was assaulted by up to half a dozen uniformed officers after he was stopped and frisked in the Melrose, Bronx, New York City.

The NYPD’s Internal Affairs division is investigating the incident which was also caught on tape showing the brutal behavior by the officers on Aug. 18.

The video shows that the 23-year-old Hernandez is being approached by two female officers who handcuff him after searching him. Then an officer starts bending his arm behind his back.

“I’m like, ‘Miss, what you doing? You’re hurting my arm,’” Hernandez told ABC-7.

“She just was telling me to put my hands behind my back, I’m like, ‘I’m trying to understand what you’re arresting me for. Can you please tell me?’”

Moments later, half a dozen officers arrive on the scene and pull Hernandez down onto the pavement beating him.

“They was taking turns on me. One kicks me, he steps back. Another one comes, he punch me and he steps back. And another one comes and grabs my arm and hits me like 10 times with the baton. Another one comes, pepper-sprayed me. They were taking turns on me like a gang,” Hernandez said.

According to court documents, Hernandez was charged with resisting arrest and carrying synthetic marijuana.

However, Hernandez’s attorney Jay Heinrich said he was acquitted on all charges.

Asked why he refused to cooperate with police and put his hands behind his back, he said “Because I’m a person to ask questions. If I didn’t do nothing wrong, I’m trying to understand the reason, what they are thinking of me, or what was the reason at all to arrest me.”

The incident happened afte another video showed 43-year-old Eric Garner died after police placed him in a chokehold in July. The move is banned by department policy.

Other videos show officers used excessive force on a pregnant woman and on a suspected farebeater in separate incidents in the same month.