Opinion ID: 2817285
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Abuhadwan’s version

Text: When the officers arrived at the scene, they saw about eight to ten Hispanic individuals, including Velazquez, 6 VELAZQUEZ V. CITY OF LONG BEACH standing around a vehicle on a “dimly lit street.” Some in the group were holding beer cans. According to Abuhadwan, the officers had no intention of arresting anyone, as the problem was “something [that] easily could be avoided by just going inside and turn[ing] off the music.” Abuhadwan saw Velazquez, who was not holding a drink, leaning against a vehicle and “holding on to [it] with both of his hands.” Abuhadwan testified that to him, Velazquez’s position indicated that he “was possibly under the influence to the extent he couldn’t hold his own balance.” At the same time, Abuhadwan did not believe that Velazquez appeared “unable to care for himself.” As the officers arrived in their patrol car, Abuhadwan told the group to “go inside, pick up your trash,” and move a car blocking the street. Members of the group began to do as told. In response to the officer’s instructions, Velazquez said “yeah, sure” while shaking his head left to right. Abuhadwan interpreted this statement “as being sarcastic and telling the group we’re not leaving, like, yeah, sure, move on, cop.” Abuhadwan “ma[d]e a decision to detain” Velazquez because “he was the only subject that refused to comply with the orders.” Abuhadwan left his vehicle and approached Velazquez. From about four feet away, Abuhadwan smelled alcohol on Velazquez’s breath and observed that his eyes were watery. Abuhadwan then commanded Velazquez to place his hands behind his head so he could conduct a “cursory” search, telling Velazquez that he was “being detained for [being] drunk in public.” According to Abuhadwan, Velazquez replied “fuck off, I’m good.” Abuhadwan repeated his command, to which Velazquez replied, “I ain’t VELAZQUEZ V. CITY OF LONG BEACH 7 doing that. We don’t got to leave.” Abuhadwan then decided to “apply a twist lock” to Velazquez.1 Velazquez did not fight back. Abuhadwan testified that, at that point, Velazquez was not under arrest, but was “being detained.” After placing Velazquez in the twist lock, Abuhadwan began to walk Velazquez to the patrol car. While walking back to the vehicle, Abuhadwan felt Velazquez “sort of pull[] away.” Abuhadwan executed an “arm bar takedown,”2 which brought Velazquez to the ground. A “textbook” arm bar takedown places the detainee in the “prone position,” with his stomach to the ground, allowing the officer more control. When Abuhadwan performed the takedown on Velazquez, however, Velazquez “roll[ed] on his back and was facing” Abuhadwan, with his fists clenched to his chest. Velazquez’s legs were up in the air in a bicycle position, suggesting to Abuhadwan that Velazquez was “ready to ground fight with me.”3 Abuhadwan thereupon decided to arrest Velazquez 1 Abuhadwan described a “twist lock” as “grab[bing] the left arm [of the subject] with your right hand, you C-clamp the back of the elbow to prevent a subject from elbowing you in the face, and with your left hand you grab the wrist in a C-lock motion . . . not to inflict pain, but to give . . . the officer advantage and keep the subject off balance.” 2 Abuhadwan described an “arm bar takedown” as follows: “I maintain control with my left hand and with my right hand I could either go over the shoulder and push force downward; that causes the subject to go towards the ground, or I use the edge of my hand and I apply force to the elbow, which causes a pain arrow to the elbow to make the subject go whatever direction you want.” 3 The police report Abuhadwan filed after the incident did not mention that Velazquez had an aggressive bicycle stance, or that his legs were off the ground. 8 VELAZQUEZ V. CITY OF LONG BEACH “[f]or resisting, obstructing, [or] delaying a police officer,” in violation of California Penal Code Section 148(a)(1). Abuhadwan commanded Velazquez to roll over onto his stomach and to place his hands to his sides. Velazquez did not comply. Without warning, Abuhadwan struck him three times on the shoulder with his baton, commanding Velazquez again to roll over. With interspersed commands to roll over, Abuhadwan proceeded to strike Velazquez eight more times, hitting Velazquez’s shoulder, lower back and buttocks area, left bicep, and hands (which were clenched to his chest). When Velazquez did begin to roll over during the strikes, Abuhadwan feared “he was going to get up onto his feet,” so he continued the baton strikes,“swing[ing] at full force the entire time.” While Velazquez was being struck with the baton, he shouted “leave me the fuck alone.” After eleven baton strikes, Velazquez rolled onto his stomach and placed his hands to his side; Abuhadwan then handcuffed him. Abuhadwan observed no injuries to Velazquez. Once other police units arrived at the scene, Abuhadwan lifted Velazquez from the ground, placed him under arrest, and drove him to the police station to be booked.