Photo: Getty Images
WOODLAND HILLS (CNS) - As part of its categorical use-of-force investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department released body cam video today of the altercation during the arrest of New Orleans Pelicans center-forward Jaxson Hayes while responding to a domestic violence call at his Woodland Hills home.
The video, released on the LAPD's YouTube channel, begins with audio from the original July 28 call, when the cousin of Hayes' girlfriend told a dispatcher the woman sent text messages claiming he was “getting loud and violent and she's scared and can't call the police herself.” The cousin told the dispatcher Hayes' cousin was with him but not involved in the dispute.
Officers responded about 3 a.m. to the 22000 block of Mariano Street, where body cam video shows the 21-year-old Hayes and another man in front of the house.
Hayes told officers he and his girlfriend “were just having a little argument. She was throwing some stuff at me.”
Officers are shown repeatedly ordering Hayes to remain outside while they talk to the woman inside. He demanded to know whether they had a warrant to enter his house and they told him they didn't need one. “You're not gonna kick me out of my house, bro,” Hayes told the officers as the man who was outside with him repeatedly asked Hayes to relax.
Hayes is shown trying to get into his house as officers begin to restrain him. As he continues to resist being handcuffed, the officers warn that they will tase him.
Photo: Getty Images
Hayes told the officers three times “I can't breathe,” when one officer had a knee near his neck. A different officer ordered that officer to “Get your knee up,” and the kneeing officer complied.
Hayes was tased once on his chest and once on his buttocks, the video shows, and that handcuffs were eventually applied and officers helped Hayes from the ground and into a chair.
He was arrested and booked on suspicion of resisting arrest, police said. Before being booked, Hayes received medical treatment at a hospital for injuries suffered during the altercation and was medically cleared for booking at the Van Nuys Jail, police said.
He was released on $25,000 bond, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
“There was a female at the location who declined to cooperate with officers' investigation into the original domestic dispute call,” according to police.
A separate body cam video from a sergeant at the scene shows Hayes shoving an officer into a wall as that officer tries to handcuff him early in the altercation. The officer reportedly suffered an elbow injury and was treated at a hospital.
LAPD Captain Stacy Spell explained at the beginning of the video, “We are still at the very early stages of this investigation, which can often take up to a year to complete.”