San Diego

A San Diego police officer accused of beating a handcuffed prisoner testified Wednesday that two other officers beat the suspect instead of him.

Mark Keyser, 30, named the other two officers, who testified Tuesday when called by the prosecution, but they have not been charged in the case.

Also testifying Wednesday was former Officer David Nellis, 29, who also said he saw the two other officers strike Keith Beals, 19, on Sept. 18 after a high-speed chase.

Both Keyser and Nellis are charged with a felony, assault under color of authority. Final arguments are scheduled for this afternoon.

Keyser said Officers Toby Freestone and Danny Hollister struck Beals before and after he was handcuffed.

Freestone testified Tuesday, but San Diego Superior Court Judge William Kennedy struck his testimony and told the jury to disregard it after he invoked the 5th Amendment, refusing to testify further because of possible self-incrimination.

Hollister testified he never struck Beals.

Keyser said Hollister hit Beals 5 to 10 times, and Hollister later remarked that Beals did not “holler” so he must be respected because he had never seen a suspect that was beaten not complain before.

Freestone hit Beals about five times, Keyser said.

On cross-examination, Keyser said he did strike Beals once, in the shoulder with his fist, because Beals was resisting being handcuffed while on the ground.

Nellis did not strike Beals, Keyser said.

During the preliminary hearing Jan. 24, four officers--including Freestone and Hollister--invoked the 5th Amendment and refused to testify.

Beals is serving a one-year term in County Jail for possessing rock cocaine.