Is this Video of EP Police Brutality?

This was sent to us by a listener. According to what he told us, this happened on Thursday.  These guys had permission to do “graffiti art” on this wall. The police showed up and…this happened.

Did the dude have permission? Were the cops harassing an innocent local artist? I don’t know. I DO know, however, that even if the cops are in the wrong you still can’t take a swing at them (as seen at the 14 second mark in the video).

For some strange reason ,in this country, only the police have the right to physically attack you and it’s against the law to defend yourself.  The president can’t do that. The richest man in America can’t. But a cop making $40,000 a year who may or may not have gone to college…he can lay his hands on you in an aggressive way and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. That has always struck me as being really weird.

The video might not be safe for work!

This statement was sent to us via the El Paso Police Department,"

Fernie,

We are aware of the video and the incident. It is important to note that the video does not show the entire incident. With that said, there doesn't appear to be any officer misconduct based on the video itself. It is also clear, just like you indicated on the phone, that the individual being taken into custody is not complying with the officers directions during this interaction.

Respectfully,

Det. Mike Baranyay
El Paso Police Department"