SJ Police Investigate Excessive Force Allegation
POSTED: 12:02 am PST March 3, 2006
SAN JOSE -- San Jose police are looking into an allegation that an officer used excessive force while trying to clear a street outside San Jose City Hall Tuesday night as revelers celebrated Mardi Gras. Sgt. Nick Muyo confirmed Thursday that a woman has accused the Police Department of using excessive force. The allegation stems from an incident that was caught on video by CBS 5. The video appears to show an officer in riot gear hitting a woman in the leg with a nightstick. Muyo declined to comment on the video, but said at least two officers were involved in an incident on Santa Clara Street as part of a larger effort to clear the street around 11 p.m. He would not disclose the names of the involved officers and said the investigation into the incident is ongoing. After two years of quiet Fat Tuesday celebrations, San Jose police had a tougher time controlling a rowdy crowd this year. Altogether, San Jose police made 25 arrests, responded to four stabbings, issued 238 citations and found several cars vandalized, Officer Enrique Garcia reported Wednesday.