Starvin Larry

Francis Pusok will receive $650,000 after his brutal encounter with California deputies was caught on camera. Who winds up paying such bills?

After avoiding arrest, fleeing on a horse, and being beaten by deputies, 30-year-old Francis Pusok will receive a $650,000 settlement to avoid a lawsuit.

In early April, 10 California deputies were placed on paid leave after a video recorded by a TV news crew showed the police using excessive force on Mr. Pusok, who did not appear to resist arrest. The quick settlement raises the question of whether this is the best way to deal with cases of potential excessive force.

The ten deputies chased Pusok for two and a half hours after attempting to serve him a search warrant. He first fled by car, then by a stolen horse. Pusok fell from the horse, and remained face down on the ground. The video shows two deputies approaching him, then kicking his body and punching his head. Throughout the encounter, which lasted about two minutes, as many as 11 deputies hit or punched the suspect.

At the time, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said the encounter, captured by a KNBC-TV helicopter, did not follow protocol. The officers were subsequently placed on leave.

“I’m asking for some patience while we complete a thorough and fair investigation,” McMahon said, reported the Associated Press. “I am disturbed and troubled by what I see in the video. It does not appear to be in line with our policies and procedures.”

San Bernardino County supervisors approved the settlement, as a result of a federal civil rights investigation. The agreement would settle all potential civil claims, but does not affect internal, criminal, or civil rights investigations, reported the Associated Press.

Read the rest @ http://news.yahoo.com/horseman-beaten-california-police-paid-650-000-best-120605117.html