WATCH ABOVE: Footage of Zareck’s arrest has sparked criticism. Peter Daut reports.
TORONTO – LAPD officers were recorded using a Taser and bean bag rounds on a homeless man confined to a wheelchair.
Los Angeles police allege that 43-year-old Christopher Adam Zareck was armed with a pole and swung first during an altercation on Friday. How they responded to that is being heavily criticized after footage of the incident emerged online.
Ten officers can be seen surrounding Zareck in the video. After some shouting, CBS reports that three rounds of bean bags were fired at the homeless man.
Zareck then appeared to struggle before a Taser was used to subdue him.
“It didn’t appear that they were seriously worried about their safety,” Pete White of the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN) told the Los Angeles Times. “It was easy enough to approach and have a conversation with a man in a wheelchair.”
“We are shocked. We are disappointed,” LA CAN’s Eric Ares added. “It seemed by the video it was unwarranted for them to use bean bags and a Taser to take down a gentleman that’s in a wheelchair, especially involving 10 officers.”
Zareck does have a past criminal record that includes suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence and a hit-and-run.
None of the 10 officers involved have been placed on leave but an investigation is currently underway. The LAPD has confirmed that body cameras worn by officers at the scene will play a role.
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