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Indybay Feature

Jose Velasco Files Legal Claim for Damages Resulting from Violent Arrest by Salinas Police

by Alex Darocy (alex [at] alexdarocy.com)
On June 18, Jose Velasco filed a legal claim for damages against the City of Salinas and the Salinas Police Department for the injuries he suffered after officers with the SPD violently arrested him on June 5. The claim alleges, "assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligence, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring," on the part of the city and the police department. Velasco is being represented by John Burris, who announced the details of the claim surrounded by supporters at a press conference at Salinas City Hall.
As a result of the June 5 arrest, Velasco suffers from a broken leg, multiple stitches in his head, and bruises on his torso, arms, legs, and face. His family has described him as having a "hole" in his leg from the beating. A video of the arrest, which went viral in the news and on social media, shows one officer continuing to hit Velasco with his baton after he is pinned to the ground.

Police officers arrived at the scene of Velasco's arrest on North Main Street that day after Velasco's mother, Rita Acosta, called 911 for medical help because her son was walking in traffic. According to Acosta, Velasco said he had been "seeing demons" that day and believed that someone was "chasing" him. As Acosta was attemtping to remove her son from the roadway, the police arrived an immediately began to hit Velasco with their batons.

The officers hit Velasco, "without making sure they understood what was happening between Ms. Acosta and her son," the claim states, adding that, "Mr. Velasco was not posing a threat to anyone."

According to the claim, Velasco's mother yelled for the officers to stop hitting her son, and to tell them that he suffered from mental illness.

"Despite hearing Ms. Acosta pleading for them to stop, the officer continued to hit a defenseless Jose Velasco with their batons while he was on the ground," the claim states.

The claim also demands that all evidence in the case be preserved until the completion of any and all civil and/or criminal litigation related to the incident.

The Velasco family, who were severely traumatized by the incident, continues to seek justice for Jose by speaking out, holding demonstrations, and creating the Facebook group, Justice for Jose Velasco.


To view the video of Velasco's June 5 arrest, see:

Video Shows Salinas Police Hitting Man on Ground
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/06/07/18773264.php

For more information, see:

Justice For Jose Velasco
http://www.facebook.com/groups/1457751071204951/


Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
§Claim for Damages
by Alex Darocy
jose-velasco-claim-john-burris-salinas-police.pdf_600_.jpg
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