Video of Montebello officer slamming man’s head onto pavement results in criminal charges
A former Montebello officer was arrested Wednesday after being charged with assaulting an alleged tagger in an incident captured on video by a restaurant security camera.
Mark Ryan, 37, a veteran police officer who recently left the department, is charged with assault for allegedly slamming a man’s head onto the pavement on Oct. 31, 2014, officials said. Ryan was due to appear in court Thursday on the charge filed April 5.
The investigation began after video of the incident was turned over to Montebello police from a restaurant. The eatery’s security camera system caught Ryan responding to a report of two taggers spraying walls in the 2100 block of West Whittier Boulevard. According to sources, the video allegedly shows Ryan scuffling with a man and slamming the man’s head onto the pavement.
Last year, Ryan was president of the Montebello Police Officers Assn.
Montebello police brought in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to investigate Ryan’s conduct. Sheriff’s detectives who reviewed the video and interviewed those involved said Ryan’s actions warranted criminal charges.
The video has not been publicly released.
Ryan could not immediately be reached for comment.
Twitter: @lacrimes
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