November 20, 2013
If only he had been wearing a helmet, to protect his face from their fists.
San Francisco police are accused of police brutality after a bicyclist was filmed with bloody injuries after he was caught riding his bike on the sidewalk.
Shocking video shows D’Paris Charles “DJ” Williams, 20, being carried away crying with a bloody face Friday afternoon after plainclothed officers asked him to remove his bike from the sidewalk, which is a traffic code violation.
Williams’ family claims the 20-year-old couldn’t hear their orders because he was listening to music through headphones.
Officers argue he resisted arrest and tried to escape into a nearby building after they flashed their badges.
“The officers identified themselves as police and displayed their badges and attempted to stop Mr. Williams. That’s when he fled and attempted to flee those officers,” Officer Gordon Shyy told the Daily News.
Video capturing the resulting chaos shows at least a dozen residents of the surrounding Valencia Gardens public housing complex pouring out into the street to Williams’ apparent defense.
One video taken by a woman posted to YouTube shows Williams being hauled off before several fights break out against the officers.
“Just know that I know how many bruises they got because it’s on film,” the woman behind the camera tells police while tiptoeing between their squad cars and asking to not be punched.
“They got their a– beat, they’re bloody, bruised, and in the back of the car with handcuffs on,” she says.
Travis Jensen, who filmed his own video of the scene, told KPIX that what he saw was a clear case of police brutality.
“Clearly something not right is happening here,” he told the station. “People don’t get that upset for no reason. They were upset because they were seeing DJ getting beaten.”
Williams was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery on an officer, felony resisting arrest and a traffic code violation for riding his bike on sidewalk. He also had an outstanding warrant, said Gordon.
Williams was taken to San Francisco General Hospital for medical treatment. His condition was not known by Gordon. Three others arrested with him suffered minor abrasions.
Two police officers also received medical treatment, one who was described as bitten by Williams and as second who was allegedly hit with a cane.
Gordon was not sure if there were other civilian witnesses to Williams’ initial stop but said they have surveillance video taken from the surrounding housing development that is currently being reviewed as evidence.