HOUSTON – A man has claimed that a Houston police officer punched him in the face while he was handcuffed, and it was all caught on camera.
Myisha Carrion said she, her child's father, Lucious Davis, and his sister were backing out of a driveway in the 5700 block of Southseas on Monday morning.
Police officers, who appeared to be on routine patrol, pulled up and told the trio to pull back into the driveway, Carrion said. She said she does not know why the officers stopped at the home.
"We asked them what is the reason and they're not saying anything. They're telling us to shut up," Carrion said.
Carrion said surveillance cameras at the home captured video of an officer trying to choke Davis.
Davis was arrested and, while his hands were cuffed behind his back, one of the officers punched him in the face as he tried to get off the hot hood of a car, Carrion said.
Community activist Quanell X said the officers then went into the home.
"Then they come in the home, without a search warrant, and search the home, come back out with a shotgun. Then give the young man they beat up a shotgun charge," he said.
Davis was charged with being in possession of a firearm and criminal mischief. According to court records, Davis has been accused of kicking the window and door of a patrol car.
Davis has an extensive criminal history that includes charges of driving with a suspended license, failure to identify and possession of marijuana.
"It doesn't matter about his background," Carrion said. "Everybody should be treated equally and fair."
Houston police said the officer seen in the video has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation.