Man Claims He has Videotape of San Bernardino Deputies Beating Him Unconscious

By Chris Vogel Mon., Mar. 14 2011 at 2:55 PM

www.charlydmiller.com

Cruz (not pictured) claims he was restrained and beaten

Lawsuits alleging physical abuse against police officers are notoriously difficult to win.

They're the ultimate he-said, she-said, and since there is generally not much proof other than bruises and black-eyes, most folks tend to trust the word of an officer over an accused criminal.

But a videotape showing abuse can change all of that.

A San Bernardino man claims he has such a tape and is suing San Bernardino County and several sheriff's deputies, claiming they beat him unconscious and lied about what happened to cover their asses.

According to a lawsuit recently filed in Los Angeles federal court, Dennis Cruz was at a Circle K in Hesperia on March 6, 2009 when a deputy approached him and asked to see his drivers license.

Cruz says he handed over his license and that the deputy asked him if he was a member of the violent El Salvadoran street gang Mara Salvatrucha. The deputy then said he was "going to make sure" that Cruz was deported, claims Cruz.

Cruz's attorney, Luis Carrillo, tells the Weekly that Cruz is not in the country illegally and has Temporary Protected Status, meaning the Department of Homeland Security has deemed it unsafe for him to return to his home country and may remain in the United States.

Next, according to the lawsuit, the deputy tried to run Cruz's license through the computer in his squad car, but the system was down so he placed Cruz in handcuffs, had Cruz's car towed, and took him down to the station.

Cruz claims that when he got to sheriff's building, a white officer slammed his head into a wall and then five deputies placed restraints around his legs and assaulted him, causing him to lose consciousness.

The next thing Cruz remembers was waking up in a hospital.

Cruz was charged with assaulting an officer and eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, says Carrillo. But he's hoping the discovery of a videotape of the incident will prove that the officers used unnecessary force and lied about what happened in order to charge Cruz.

"We have the video," says Carrillo. "It shows excessive use of force was used against Mr. Cruz and against an unrelated female who was also there at the time."

Carrillo says he will try to get us a copy of the videotape.

Tags:

abuse, Dennis Cruz, lawsuit, MS-13, San Bernardino, sheriff

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jkat

https://www.facebook.com/Justi... <-------- one of the same deputies did this.

Anynamehere

We used to be land of the free. Now we live in a land where a police officer can stop you, interrogate you, charge you with whatever they want or can dream up. You maybe innocent, but only after you've spent weeks, months, years, in jail, and thousands of dollars proving it. Meanwhile you've lost your job, car, house, and reputation amongst your friends. The best part of this scam is, that if you do stick it out, win your freedom, vindication. If you sue it becomes your word against theirs, they don't lose their job, home, livelyhood, friends. There are no reprucussions for them. So who are the criminals nowadays?

Sark

Interesting... finally found out the name of the deputy who just beat the hell out of my brother this weekend via tazing twice THEN bashing him multiple times in the head with his batton... do a little research, and looks like it wasn't the first time. You can see the pics of how bad they beat him on facebook.com/unicaw89

Boston

You should always assume cops are lying unless there is video proof showing they are not.

Robert Biggs

I to have witnessed and been beaten.. The police are out of control .. Sacramento county and siskiyou county of california..and crook county of Oregon.. And for those who think that my crime for camping on my legal gold claim for 62 days of camping in 2 states and over 10 sites warrants 90 days in jail 6 counties 2 states transferred in irons--HANDCUFFED BEHIND MY BACK CHAINED AROUND MY WAIST AND TO MY LEG IRONS_ paraded through malls -mcdonalds etc.. I paid taxes on my claim. I informed the local ranger station of every single move and my intentions everytime. bobby_5057atyahoodotcom....OUR LEADERS WILL NOT STOP THIS . THEY ARE TAKING OUR RIGHTS AWAY>>> BELIEVE ME

Anonymous

Editorial comment: The first sentence might have been better phrased, "Lawsuits against police officers that allege physical abuse are notoriously difficult to win." As it is now, the sentence can be misread to imply that the lawsuit alleges that the officers were abused.

Kizmiaz

What is the purpose of the inserted picture? It is not of the victim, so what is the point. I find little wrong with cops beating the crap out of a criminal. And in this case I'm sure we are not exposed to all the facts.

Lorhaiden

I agree that we are not exposed to all the facts, but I do find much wrong with cops beating the accused. These people are not guilty yet. The officers have a duty to protect the rights of both victims and accused.

I fervently hope that when the tape is seen it will clear the officers, but I very much doubt that that will be the case or Cruz and his lawyer would not be making a big deal of it when he (Cruz) had already pled out.

Rossi25

Not true. If he was arrested in Hesperia then he was tried in Vicotrville Court, which has a 98% conviction rate. This San Bernardino court is famously favorable to prosecution and police. All the local police are contracted sheriffs department deputies and sadly most of them behave like thug gangbangers with badges. I was detained on suspicion of DUI. I wasn't driving or in my vehicle, standing outside a bar waiting for a friend. This apparently is illegal in that county.While I was being booked they had someone before me being booked on the same charge. At the time, legally you have a choice of giving breath or blood. They claimed that the breathalizer machine wasn't working and the "Suspect" refused to give blood. (Breathalizers where recently struck down by California Superior Court as there are too many variables to get an accurate consistant reading on a individuals bac) So no mystery here why they wanted him and me to give blood and only blood.Well, they got their blood from him alright. Four deputys and 2 CHPs basically tackle the guy and beat the crap out of him until he complies. Did I mention he was in handcuffs? After this was done these complete cowards start high fiving each other as if they just did something courageous. Unbelievable.Then of course they approach me and ask if I want to give breath or blood. Haha - 6 against me, and I'm in handcuffs. Real hard choice here.Also, after everything was said and done. They charged the guy with DUI - Then added the charges resisting arrest with assualt on a peace officer. The latter two charges where added after the guy was beat while in handcuffs already in the jail processing.So does that answer your question of why did Cruz plead out to the lesser charge?If you ever lived in San Bernardino County, we all know there is a huge gang problem. What most people don't realize is that out there the gangbangers carry guns and badges.

CONCERNED

I HAVE SEEN AND EXPERIANCED FIRST HAND THE ABUSE OF OFFICERS. IT'S UNREAL THAT THEY GET AWAY WITH THINGS LIKE THIS. THE JAILS, IN SAN BERNARDINO, THAT ARE KNOWN TO DO THESE THINGS ARE ADELANTO, WEST VALLEY, AND GLEN HELEN.

I HAVE WATCHED DEPUTIES PUT PEOPLES FACES INTO WALLS AND DRAG THEM ABOUT THE CELLS.

AND THEY THREATENED ME PERSONALY BUT I HAD TOLD THEM I KNEW MY INMATE RIGHTS

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPT. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A WHOLE. AND THE ACLU SHOULD ALSO STEP IN.