Oregon sheriff’s office reviewing video of deputy punching homeless man

A sheriff’s department in Oregon is reviewing a video shot by a local news station that shows a deputy repeatedly punching a homeless man in the head during an altercation.

KGW 9 News was at the scene of a search and rescue mission in Detroit, Ore., on Monday morning when the photographer witnessed the violent arrest. 

In the video, the deputy is seen punching the man in the head roughly 14 times while other officers hold him to the ground. 

{mosads} “I am not resisting,” the man screams while trying to block his head from the blows.

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, 28-year-old Kevin Straw was arrested after entering the command post and disturbing the rescue operations.

Sheriff’s deputy Ethan Griffith said Straw, described as a transient, was making loud noises and refused to leave.

Law enforcement also said they found a large, fixed-blade knife in Straw’s possession.

Straw was cited with interfering with police and resisting arrest. Police said he was taken to the Psychiatric Crisis Center in nearby Salem, Ore., for a mental health evaluation.

On Monday, the sheriff’s office said it was “reviewing” the video from KGW 9 as well as other reports. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon has called on the Marion County District Attorney’s Office to open an investigation into use of force by the officer, KGW 9 reported.

“That video is disturbing. It’s violent. Honestly, if that does not represent excessive use of force, I’m not quite sure what does,” said David Rogers, executive director of the Oregon ACLU.