Dash cam video shows Seattle police officer punching man in face
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SEATTLE -- A Seattle man filed a formal complaint against Seattle police Friday, claiming he was bullied into a beating at the hands of their officers.
Dash cam video taken by an SPD squad car shows Issac Ocak taking sharp blows to the face while other officers held back his arms. (Warning: full video contains graphic language.) Ocak says he was brutally beaten by officers in December 2010 while shopping at Seattle's Westwood Village.
Once the police dash cam video surfaced, he enlisted the help of attorney James Egan.
"This officer is a bully with a badge," Egan said.
Egan filed a complaint with SPD's Office of Professional Accountability, and took the first steps in filing a civil lawsuit against the city. He claims Officer Larry Longley escalated the situation and used excessive force during the arrest.
Seattle police responded by pointing out that Ocak assaulted Longley by biting him on the finger, even drawing blood.
Officers initially stopped Ocak because he left his car parked along the curb running, which looked suspicious. Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said the officers were concerned the car could be used as a potential getaway car for a shoplifter or robber.
Egan said Ocak gave an explanation, but the officers wouldn't let up.
"They're fishing," Egan said. "They are fishing, but there's nothing to find."
Seattle police say the car didn't come back registered to Ocak, and a background check showed he had been assaultive to officers in the past.
"We believe that he's in the middle of committing a crime, was about to commit a crime, or just did," Whitcomb said.
Prosecutors ultimately dropped the assault charge against Ocak.
Police supervisors reviewed the case, but determined the force used was reasonable and necessary. Longley was never disciplined.
"I hope that through a pattern of looking at what they've done, that there will be some changes that are positive," Egan said.
Longley was involved in at least one other questionable arrest. In 2008, the state Supreme Court ruled Longley acted unlawfully, and ultimately cleared the defendant.
Dash cam video taken by an SPD squad car shows Issac Ocak taking sharp blows to the face while other officers held back his arms. (Warning: full video contains graphic language.) Ocak says he was brutally beaten by officers in December 2010 while shopping at Seattle's Westwood Village.
Once the police dash cam video surfaced, he enlisted the help of attorney James Egan.
"This officer is a bully with a badge," Egan said.
Egan filed a complaint with SPD's Office of Professional Accountability, and took the first steps in filing a civil lawsuit against the city. He claims Officer Larry Longley escalated the situation and used excessive force during the arrest.
Seattle police responded by pointing out that Ocak assaulted Longley by biting him on the finger, even drawing blood.
Officers initially stopped Ocak because he left his car parked along the curb running, which looked suspicious. Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said the officers were concerned the car could be used as a potential getaway car for a shoplifter or robber.
Egan said Ocak gave an explanation, but the officers wouldn't let up.
"They're fishing," Egan said. "They are fishing, but there's nothing to find."
Seattle police say the car didn't come back registered to Ocak, and a background check showed he had been assaultive to officers in the past.
"We believe that he's in the middle of committing a crime, was about to commit a crime, or just did," Whitcomb said.
Prosecutors ultimately dropped the assault charge against Ocak.
Police supervisors reviewed the case, but determined the force used was reasonable and necessary. Longley was never disciplined.
"I hope that through a pattern of looking at what they've done, that there will be some changes that are positive," Egan said.
Longley was involved in at least one other questionable arrest. In 2008, the state Supreme Court ruled Longley acted unlawfully, and ultimately cleared the defendant.
Cops need to bled out.
Dash cam shows criminal biting officers hand. Notice the grimice?? I would be giving the creep a smack down also.
Police are NOT above the law and should be taken to task just like anyone else! Shame on them! And there are laws against bullying, the police being the BIGGEST bullies Ive seen!
Cops are PUNKS and will stay that way UNTIL the people wake up and do something like firing the liars in the police department! They wonder why they don't get any respect, you have to give it to get it! There are very few cops that give anybody any respect, they think that everybody is guilty! Number Two, most of them are COWARDS is why they act like they do! Semper Fi.
Watch the video and pause it at the beginning at 25-26 seconds. Â The guy being arrested was obviously biting the officer's finger and that's when he was punched. Â Leave it to the news to turn this criminal into a victim. Â Â
@Chris Franz Leave it to a one comment idiot to take the side of Johnny Law. Gotta a little on your chin dude!
This cop should have his fingernails pulled out.
Cops are worthless in this city. Â
Let's see. Coopertate. Answer the questions. Go home. Or...be an ass...resist...run your gums...get smacked...cry like a little girl.Â
@Kent Chris Let's see, f with me and get killed if you're a dumb azz cop!
@Kent Chris "Coopertate." Let me guess... you are a cop.
If you bit my finger that hard to draw blood I would punch you until you let go... this punk deserves nothing! ... he was being a smart arse and got what he deserved - I hope they throw this POS lawsuit out as KOMO in classic practice does not give the whole story that shows how much of a moron this person was being... either you want the city fill even more with punks like this because your force has no people signing up to be an officer because they know the LAWS protect POS like this guy...if a cop asks me to come to him I do what every person should do.. 'COMPLY' if you act like this guy did you deserve what you get...I know I would not want to be a cop in Seattle or anywhere in this state as the laws protect so many guilty people it is disgusting!
@Freespeech'COMPLY' if you act like this guy did you deserve what you get...
Police are not above the law. If laws do not protect the worst of us then they do not protect the best of us either.
wow these cops deserve to get the crap sued out of them.....they arent cops they are abusing there power, no wonder christopher monfront shot that cop, for crap they pull i am surprised they havent gotten more assaults against them....
fight brutality!
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This is typical KOMO jounalism at its finest. Show a small portion of the video: Just enough to stir the bees nest, but god forbid the entire video to actually show what happened.!Â
Surprise - Surprise!
When this type of horrifying behavior is deemed "reasonable and necessary,"Â then it's reasonable and necessary to fear the police and mockery of the injustice system!
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You don't think when you beat a man in his face for that long that you might cut your finger? This cop needs to be charged with making a false statement, falsifying a report, abuse of power, and assault.
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Unless juries start compensating victims of police brutality like Mr. Ocak with astronomical sums of money, then cities will have no incentive to reign in these sicko type thugs who terrorize the general populace.
He didn't cut his finger, Ocak bit it. Hence, the punches to the face.Â
@jlynnhood Same urge I would have if I met you.
 @jlynnhood The video shows the cop brutalizing Ocak and then shoved his finger in Ocak's mouth with forcing his head on the hood. Are you saying Ocak bit him before this? Why was that edited out of the video, and where did you see it? Or are you just assuming that becuz the thug wears a badge that he's magically an honest and moral man?
@jlynnhood Don't cops think all people are lowlifes?
 @jlynnhood Lowlife for parking along a curb then being harrased bu the police.... You're an idiot
Nope, not joking! Ocak bit the officer so the officer punched him. The only lowlife in the video is Ocak.Â
You're joking! haha I get it now, but you have to remember that sarcasism doesn't come across well in text. Oh well, be safe out there friend, and may you never come across the likes of Ofc. Longley or any of his dangerous lowlife cohorts! And never give up your guns people -- can you imagine only swine like this possessing firearms?!
 @Steelingminds I am saying what I said: Ocak bit the officer, the officer punched Ocak. Did you watch the video?
That moron cop grabbed the chap around the face and mouth and his finger inadvertently went into his mouth.... I would have bitten harder.... The deliberate brutality from the police is inexcusable and reprehensible.... Take the city for as much as you can get Egan
You bunch of sick %$#ks, you call yourself police? Shame to you and your kind. Total speculation on the officers part, no proof and of course exessive force. Scumbags that you are. God will see your justice on you and your families.
Aside from that, where does this reporter get off commenting his personal opinion on this story "the video seems to show...."   A reporter's job is to report the news, not embellish, interpret, or voice an opinion. I feel this reporter overstepped his bounds and, were I a manager at KOMO, would chastise him for his comment biasing the viewer before they've had a chance to see the video for themselves. Shame on you Joel Mareno!
 @Joy Johnson It is IN FACT the job of a good reporter to point out elements of evidence which is central to the understanding of the story or which may be of special interest to viewers / readers. The only possible reason to think that this reporter overstepped would be if you believed the act should not be revealed and widely known. It is not therefore Joel Moreno upon whom any shame must lie...
 @Joy Johnson Everyone is entitled to their opinion and the attorneys was valid... if you think Isaac's treatment was just, then you have just proven to the world what a moron YOU are.... may you be bust for a demeanour and then beaten to an inch of you life like Rodney King...
I've watched the video several times, and I just don 't see it? I'd have hit the guy pretty hard myself if I needed to jar his teeth off my finger? And what does he mean the officer escalated the situation when he's all but wrestling against these police officers. He could have just relaxed and let them arrest him, if he didn't do anything they'd let him go. The fact that this guy bit the officer shows he had a total disregard for the situation to begin with. If it takes 3 officers to subdue you, expect to get a little ruffled up in the scuffle.
 @Joy Johnson smoke another one there johnny!
 @Joy Johnson I disagree.... wait until you are victimised my your so called protectors then you will eat your words... or the cops finger.... The had NO reason to be so violent... NONE...
 @Joy Johnson You say "I've watched the video several times..." have you watched the entire video as provided in the link (http://youtu.be/_RD2H34QYqQ)?  That will give you a better idea of the entire situation, more so than the small clip in the news story.
 @Joy Johnson I don't know about you, but if I were a man in the situation he was, I would not be able to talk in a seemingly calm voice with four other people piling on top of me trying to pry my hands into position. He was relaxed, on the hood of the car, speaking clearly (no grunting in his words); how would your body react to someone pulling your arms in an unnatural position? It would resist, NATURALLY. I think they got it in their heads to exaggerate the arrest so it LOOKED like he was resisting and make it so they would like they were in the right.It was totally uncalled for, for the police officers to continue badgering Isaac for answers to questions he had already provided answers to. Wouldn't you get upset at having to answer the same things over and over again to someone who is suppose to hear you the first time? Someone who could have taken the answer, run his checks, made his calls, and then let you go when no fault was found?And from what I could see, the office plunged his finger onto Isaac's face, forcing his mouth open- wouldn't that also cause a cut?The whole scene could have been avoided, had the officers been following procedure. Sticking around and beating a dead horse (the interrogating) accomplishes nothing.
 @Joy Johnson Let them arrest him, for what exactly???  Whatever you've been smoking, you should quit before - ahh, nevermind, too late for you.  Keep smoking it. Ever hear of a little thing called the Bill of Rights?  No?  The term "Fourth Amendment" sound familiar to you at all? No?  I thought not.  This man, regardless of his parking/idling habits at shopping malls, was not in the wrong, and was obviously getting frustrated by the harassment and snide comments by officers (ie; "how many keys do YOU need").  Ever had a bad day?  You better hope you don't run across this cop when you are in a bad mood from a bad day!
Guess who pays the lawyer fees for the high school special class bully's that are heavy badged when they screw up. We do. You can't garnish their wages when you win the case. The taxpayer pays the bill. The only thing you can do is hope they get canned which doesn't happen often. You can also watch them and video tape from a distance and send it to the media. Eventually the the higher ups will get fed up or they won't get re elected.
Put the Tazer or taser away boys and girls. Take the padded leather gloves off. and and repeat after me. "good day how can i help you" . Or if you stop a vehicle, the same thing . Good Day Sir / Ma'am, may i have your license and registration please you ran a red light. Are you OK. Smiles help.
I have no idea how half these miscreants of society passed the psych eval on the police entrance exam.
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These guys give police a bad name, Â most of them do their job well. Â
 @Thomas Zychowski keep drinking the cool aid. I have a tip don't go over the speed limit.
There is about a list of 30 articles in various local papers in the Washington State area where these cops are always in the mayors office for beating the crap out of people.
And liberals want cops to be the only people to have guns....
 @GeorgeG. And conservatives want more police with more police powers.
Nope, conservatives don't want more police with more police powers, they just want people to be responsible for themselves and to be held accountable for their actions, that's all. I know that's a hard concept for liberals to embrace.
Don't think Isacc is anywhere near being a model citizen but still don't think he should have been treated the way he was. Seems a bit weird to me though he left his car running outside the mall. Either stupid or up to something.
i try to treat people like i like to be treated but in this case i seen nothing in video that he deseved to be beaten by a cop they run around seattle like there some one special they are not you rude to me i will be rude to you why should it matter if he is cop all poeple make miskakes that doesnt give cop a right to beat the guy up if i run police dept he would be fired now and none of this pay while they make up there mines go get a job he can handle by the way i am one who jumped fence and came to the USA maybe i should be beaten up or better yet hang me i have no right here i hope you see what i am saying and besides if igot deported who is going todo your lawns and wash your cars think about it
@nick rios , once you're detained, you're in the police's control, if they say, I want to cuff you for officer safety, they get to cuff you. that's legal, and that's the game. When they try to cuff you, and you resist, you're asking to be beat into submission. That is the game, and the courts allow it.  the only qualifier, is the word "reasonable" did they use reasonable force to subdue you? These are the rules, if you're ever detained, you can verbally resist all you want, but physically resisting invites use of force on their part. and for the most part, it is covered by their internal review boards, and by the judges that have a hard time seeing "undue" force
You want to be stupid you got to be tough. Lawsuit dismissed.
 @dkgiovenco The stupid cops tried to be tough, but im not impressed with its 4 on 1. These cops seem to have a yellow streak running down their backs with no stomach for a fair fight. I'd fire them just for tarnishing the badge by making all police look like complete lying wusses! Â
 @Steelingminds Stupid Cops or Smart Cops? I think smart cops, if there is going to be a fight, I would rather go in 4 on 1. BTW I love yours screen name. That is just what the media did to you on this one. Remember, this person bite a police officer, I bet if the media put that screen shot up everyone would be singing a different tune.
 @dkgiovenco You are a bird brain.
 @ethanspapa But smart enough to not respect the police and get an arse beating like this punk. Lawsuit still dismissed.