The Southern California man who had been badly beaten by a number of sheriff’s deputy after a 2 ½ long chase which even involved a stolen horse, is doing quite well after receiving medical attention in jail, states his attorney.
The violent arrest of Francis Pusok had been filmed by a TV news helicopter. The incident had led an FBI civil rights investigation with the 10 deputies sent on paid leave until further investigation.
The video appeared to display excessive use of force and had been very disturbing and troublesome, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon.
Pusok had been fleeing in a car and then on the horse in the dessert while being chased by deputies on foot on Thursday after trying to serve a search warrant in an identity theft investigation.
It could be seen on the video that Pusok had been dressed in bright red clothing, and at one point fell off the horse when the deputy ran up to stun gun him, which had not been effective as he had been wearing lose clothing.
Pushok could be seen face down with his legs outstretched and hands behind his back as a deputy punched and kicked him while another kicked him in the crotch. Moments later the other deputies arrived.
Jim Terrell, Pusok’s attorney did not comment on why his client fled but has told that actions taken again his client was a very wrong thing to do.
Pusok has a long line of vehicle code violations and has not pleaded contest to numerous criminal charges which includes, resisting arrest, attempted robbery, animal cruelty and fighting or offensive words, according to San Bernardino County Superior Court records.
According to McMahon, the deputies have formerly been called for help at a home where Pusok had allegedly made threats to kill a deputy and has fatally shot a family puppy in front all the members of the family.
According to Terrell, the criminal history of his client has no relevance to this case.
Pusok is currently being held on suspicion of felony evading, theft of a horse and possession of stolen property.
2 Comments
I used to live in that county and everyone there knows that every reject POS cop get hired in that county because they can’t get a job anywhere else. They are arrogant and worthless cops who all should be in jail but as with most cops…it is a good ol’ boys club and they keep on working. They are no more than a legalized gang of thugs paid by the county and they just can’t understand why they get no respect.
Civil rights violations by San Bernardino County Sheriff are nothing new. In 2010, my mom’s front door was broken in. She was kidnapped from her home and hidden from family at an assisted living facility in Yucaipa. When my mom called me for help, the facility confiscated her phone and placed her in a locked dementia unit. They denied all contact with family and friends. No visitation. No phone calls. No mail.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff determined no crime was committed. The DA told us, “There is nothing out of the ordinary.” In 2011, Sheriff Rod Hoops wrote to us that my mom was “safe and well cared for.”
Facility records indicate otherwise. My mom slept on a mattress on the floor. She was denied routine medical care. Caregiver records contain many indicators of sexual abuse by a male caregiver, continuing for over a year. Medical records show that in 2012, my mom was transported by ambulance to the emergency room for vaginal bleeding and genital trauma. The facility “lost” staff records, transferred my mom, and terminated the male caregiver.
Our attorney located and took the deposition of the male caregiver we suspect of sexually assaulting my mom. The male caregiver exercised his Fifth Amendment privilege and refused to answer nearly every question.
We submitted overwhelming evidence to Sheriff Tom MacMahon. In 2015, he refuses to investigate. The DA still says there is no evidence of a crime. A possible sexual predator remains free to abuse.