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San Jose police reviewing video of officers using force on suspect

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San Jose police are reviewing a video that shows at least six officers beating a man, who they say tried to attack an officer with a bottle.

The video was posted on Sandra Tejada’s Facebook page May 4 and has been seen more than 541,000 times. Tejada said she was with her children when they saw police beat a young man.

Under the video, she wrote: “Share it so that there will be justice.”

Police did not immediately comment about the video.

But in a statement, San Jose police Sgt. Enrique Garcia said the “use of force” video was taken at 8:45 p.m. May 2 near Story and White roads.

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The officers saw Juan Moreno-Lopez, 22, of San Jose walking in the neighborhood and toss something into bushes as they approached him, Garcia said.

Moreno-Lopez began running away and officers followed him. Moreno-Lopez ran into the middle of the road, turned toward officers in what police described as a “combative manner,” and tried to attack one of them with a bottle.

He engaged police in a “physical altercation,” Garcia said. Police called for assistance, then additional officers arrived and tried to subdue him.

Moreno-Lopez “continued to resist arrest and officers used physical force to subdue, but had little effect,” Garcia said.

The three-minute video shows at least six officers restraining Moreno-Lopez, whose arms are behind his back, as one of the officers hits him several times on the right side of his body.

Moreno-Lopez, who is face-down on the ground, is screaming.

A bystander yells at the officers: “It’s only one. Don’t hit him.”

Police said he continued to resist officers even while he was handcuffed.

Officers then called paramedics to treat him. He was restrained to a gurney “due to continuous violent behavior” and taken to a hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries, Garcia said.

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Moreno-Lopez was ultimately arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, destruction of evidence, being under the influence of a stimulant, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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