The Mesa, Arizona police SWAT team is facing questions after a viral Facebook video showed an officer firing bean bag rounds at a man while serving a warrant, ABC 15 News reports. A bystander at the apartment complex recorded the video on Thursday, July 16.
The man, Lorenzo, was shot with the less lethal rounds while five children stood nearby, according to the video and ABC 15.
Court documents cited by ABC 15 state that Lorenzo got into a verbal argument with his fiancée and her sister on July 6. He is accused of punching the sister in the face and shoving others who tried to intervene. Officers who responded to the apartment said he did not comply and ran, and police reported that he struck an officer in the face and had to be tased. He was released on a $5,000 bond on July 12, missed a court date the next day, and a judge issued a bench warrant.
When SWAT arrived to serve the warrant, Lorenzo came out of the apartment with a woman and the children. The video shows him raising his hands before an officer fires a bean bag round. His fiancée, Tenisha, said two more rounds were fired after he was on the ground. She told ABC 15 her kids were scared and that she believes he is a good man. According to the report, Lorenzo argued that he had attended court and should not have had a warrant.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Taylor said Lorenzo was complying, was shirtless and had no weapon. Pastor Andre Miller, who has spoken out on policing in the area, said that no reasonable person would say they would have taken that shot.
Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost said officers believed Lorenzo was armed and dangerous, and that it would be premature to comment on the officer’s split second decision. A use of force review was expected to take about a week. In a statement, Mesa police said less lethal tools were developed to protect the public and to save the lives of suspects and officers. Fire officials said Lorenzo had minor abrasions.
Lorenzo has been charged with aggravated assault on an officer, three counts of aggravated assault on a minor, resisting arrest, assault causing fear of physical injury and marijuana possession. Charges are allegations, and the case is ongoing.
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