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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/29/california-police-officers-beating-video-offered-belongings-to-homeless-witness
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| California police officers 'offered man's belongings to homeless after beating' | California police officers 'offered man's belongings to homeless after beating' |
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| Two northern California sheriff’s deputies seen beating a suspect on surveillance video last year offered the man’s belongings to homeless witnesses so they would not speak out about what they saw, the man’s attorney alleged. | Two northern California sheriff’s deputies seen beating a suspect on surveillance video last year offered the man’s belongings to homeless witnesses so they would not speak out about what they saw, the man’s attorney alleged. |
| Lawyer Michael Haddad said Alameda County deputies approached a homeless man in a San Francisco alley after the November beating of Stanislav Petrov and gave him Petrov’s large gold chain with a medallion, cash and cigarettes, the Oakland Tribune reported on Monday. | Lawyer Michael Haddad said Alameda County deputies approached a homeless man in a San Francisco alley after the November beating of Stanislav Petrov and gave him Petrov’s large gold chain with a medallion, cash and cigarettes, the Oakland Tribune reported on Monday. |
| “I think it was implied that he wanted them to be quiet,” Haddad said of the exchange, adding that he had spoken with the homeless onlookers. | “I think it was implied that he wanted them to be quiet,” Haddad said of the exchange, adding that he had spoken with the homeless onlookers. |
| Sgt JD Nelson, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, told reporters that the agency was investigating. | Sgt JD Nelson, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, told reporters that the agency was investigating. |
| “They are no better than the criminals they arrested, if these allegations are true,” Nelson said about the deputies. | “They are no better than the criminals they arrested, if these allegations are true,” Nelson said about the deputies. |
| They have been on paid administrative leave since the San Francisco public defender’s office released video showing the deputies repeatedly hitting a man with their batons as he screamed. He had broken bones in both hands and severe bruising to the head and body, his attorney said. | They have been on paid administrative leave since the San Francisco public defender’s office released video showing the deputies repeatedly hitting a man with their batons as he screamed. He had broken bones in both hands and severe bruising to the head and body, his attorney said. |
| The San Francisco district attorney, George Gascón, says he has not decided whether he will charge the deputies. | |
| The incident began when authorities spotted Petrov in a stolen car in Castro Valley. | The incident began when authorities spotted Petrov in a stolen car in Castro Valley. |
| Petrov rammed two deputies’ vehicles and then led law enforcement on a chase across the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge before deputies on foot caught up to him in the Mission District of San Francisco, according to the sheriff’s office. | Petrov rammed two deputies’ vehicles and then led law enforcement on a chase across the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge before deputies on foot caught up to him in the Mission District of San Francisco, according to the sheriff’s office. |
| Petrov was resisting arrest and reaching for his waistband, which made the deputies fear he was armed, according to their statements. | Petrov was resisting arrest and reaching for his waistband, which made the deputies fear he was armed, according to their statements. |
| Haddad questioned the deputies’ statements, which were taken four days after the video was released. | Haddad questioned the deputies’ statements, which were taken four days after the video was released. |
| “I’m suspicious that these are false reports that probably replaced earlier reports that were thrown away,” Haddad said. | “I’m suspicious that these are false reports that probably replaced earlier reports that were thrown away,” Haddad said. |