LAPD Officer Punches Handcuffed Man During Arrest

Attorneys for Alexander Donta Mitchell, a South Los Angeles resident, have filed a claim against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) after a video surfaced showing an officer punching Mitchell while he was handcuffed. The incident occurred on July 28 as Mitchell was waiting for a friend near East 113th Street and Graham Avenue. According to the LAPD, officers approached Mitchell for being double-parked and facing the wrong direction, and he allegedly refused to exit his vehicle. Mitchell's attorney, Brad Gage, contends that his client complied with the officers' orders and questioned why they opened his car door. The viral video captures the moment when an officer struck Mitchell in the face while he was being detained. Witnesses reported that Mitchell collapsed shortly after the punch, and he was subsequently transported to a hospital by ambulance. The LAPD claims that Mitchell resisted arrest by not placing his hands behind his back and reaching for his waistband. In their statement, the department noted that the officer's actions were intended to facilitate the handcuffing process. The LAPD has initiated an investigation into the incident, and the officer involved has been reassigned to desk duty, though he has not been suspended. Filing a claim is a preliminary step before a lawsuit, allowing the city 45 days to review the matter before any legal action is taken by Mitchell's attorneys.