Southern California Police Officer Caught On Video Beating Unarmed Black Man [Video]

A Barstow police officer was captured on camera beating an unarmed black man with his baton.

Video footage that shows an older black male retreating with his hands up while being pursued by a Barstow PD officer Friday afternoon.

The cop is seen with his baton raised as he approaches the victim before eventually swinging at him.

It appears the officer gave an order, which looks like he might’ve been saying get on the ground. The video then shows the Southern California police officer manhandling the man and subduing him.

The person who captured the incident noted that the cop started to wail at the man even after he was down.

The officer appears to swing four times before other officers arrive to assist. The man, who can be seen limping, is eventually handcuffed and taken to EMTs, who check him out before he’s placed in a police cruiser and taken away.

The man has been identified as 43-year-old Gary Christian. He was wanted on an open felony warrant for a probation violation. BPD says the officer attempted to make contact and arrest Christian but claimed he assaulted the officer twice.

The department also says the officer deployed his Taser unsuccessfully, which is why he used his baton.

Christian was booked into the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept. High Desert Detention Center.

Barstow PD had another race-related police incident several years back when some officers shot and killed Diante Yarber, an unarmed Black 26-year-old male, in a parking lot as they felt an apparent threat.