San Rafael Police Excessive Force - Beat Man For Getting His ID - Outrageous Police Conduct

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KGO) -- An investigation is underway after questions about an open container of beer turn into a violent takedown by San Rafael police officers, sending a man to the hospital and to court on several charges including felony resisting arrest.

However, those charges have since been dropped and the spotlight is turning to the actions of those Marin County police officers.

That man's attorney and experts in the field tell ABC7 News I-Team reporter Dan Noyes this should not have happened. They say those officers used excessive force and that at least one of them lied in his official report about the incident.

Along an industrial section of San Rafael's Windward Way -- beneath the power lines, just past the Canal District Community Garden -- day laborers gather after work to socialize, eat, and drink.

On the evening of July 27, San Rafael Police Officer Daisy Mazariegos confronts three men, including a popular Marin County gardener we'll call "Mateo"; he asked me not to use his real name.

Below you will find some of the transcriptions from the body-worn cameras of those officers.

San Rafael Police Officer Daisy Mazariegos: "What're you doing?"

Mateo: "Nothing. (laughs)"

Officer Mazariegos: "Nothing, there's like a whole bunch of beer over here."

Mateo: "I know."

Officer Mazariegos: "Okay."

Mateo: "I don't have anything to say."

Officer Mazariegos: "You don't have nothing to say, you're just out here drinking and you think that's funny?"

Mateo: "No, it's not funny."

Officer Mazariegos: "Okay."

Then in Spanish, Mateo explains he and his friends like to drink beer after a long day of work, and that they come to this area because neighbors at his apartment complex complain when they're loud.

Officer Mazariegos asks for IDs, and the tension builds after Officer Brandon Nail arrives -- 6 feet 2 inches tall, 250 pounds. He towers over Mateo who is just 5 feet tall, and 130 pounds.

San Rafael Police Officer Brandon Nail: "Hey, sit the **** down."

Mateo: "Hey, you don't have to talk to me."

Officer Mazariegos: "Well, I told you to sit down."

Mateo: "I know, I know."

Officer Nail: "You know what?"

Mateo: "Yes."

It appears Mateo is trying to cooperate but he has difficulty finding his ID without standing up to reach into his pockets.

Officer Mazariegos: "Take out your ID."

Mateo: "I know, I know, I know, I have to take it out but I have to pick it up (stand up) to pick it out."

Officer Mazariegos: "Sit down, just sit down."

Mateo: "You have to understand-"

Officer Mazariegos: "Okay-"

Mateo: "Hey, hey, hey."

You can see from his bodycam that Officer Nail forces Mateo to the ground over beer bottles, punches him in the nose, and pushes his face into the rough pavement.

Dan Noyes: "And it turns out, he had a broken nose and a concussion."

Mateo: "I did not do anything."

Officer Mazariegos: "I told you to sit down, you don't sit down."

He says Officer Nail used excessive force, and that Officer Mazariegos overreacted to a relatively minor infraction -- an open container of beer.

Clark told the I-Team, "It sounded to me like a chip on her shoulder. She did not like the response she was getting, apparently. And she comes on strong. And it just goes downhill from there."

Mateo: "I didn't do anything, really."

After the officers load Mateo into a patrol car...

Officer Mazariegos: "In the car. (door slams)"

... they discuss what happened with paramedics.

Unidentified Firefighter: "What happened, was it a fight?"

Officer Mazariegos: "Um... uncooperative, so we took him down to the ground."

Their colleagues.

Officer Nail: "His face is blown up."

Unidentified Officer: "What's that?"

Officer Nail: "He had a bad day."

Unidentified Officer: "Okay."

And their supervisors.

Unidentified Supervisor: "How 'ya doing?"

Officer Mazariegos: "Got out of hand. (laughs)"

Unidentified Supervisor: "Okay, you need anything?"

Officer Mazariegos: "No, I'm good."

Below is what a sergeant says, as he walks away from Officer Nail.

Unidentified Sergeant: "You're giving me great experience with use of force, dude."

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