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A video posted to Twitter and since shared widely on Facebook and other social media as well shows a young man identified on the video as a student at Fullerton Community College, in California, being violently arrested by “Safety Officers” working for the school. (In a statement, quoted below, Fullerton Community College Interim President Dr. Greg Schulz states that the person being arrested is actually not a student.)

The video begins with one Safety Officer demanding the man who was arrested identify himself and stating, “if I can’t verify who you are, I’ll just hook you up. I can do that.” as he reaches behind him for handcuffs. Soon after, he begins grabbing and pushing the man. Other students present gather around them and begin protesting that he hadn’t done anything to warrant being arrested for, as well as that the violent arrest is unnecessary because he “hasn’t even been in a fucking fist fight.”

As the man being arrested is pushed against a wall and then onto the ground another Security Officer soon appears to help. Both of them proceed to very roughly place the handcuffs on to the man as he complains about the amount of force they are using and asserts that he’s not resisting.

The video which “went viral” rather quickly has caused outrage among civil rights and anti-brutality activists and spawned yet another hashtag “#JusticeforLouisMunoz.” Based on that hashtag, the man who was arrested would obviously be named Louis Munoz, although nothing else about his identity has been released as of yet. According to the person who took the video his “crime” was smoking a cigarette on campus.

Neither Campus Safety Officer has been identified by name at this point. According to the statement released by the college, at least one (presumably the one who initiated the confrontation) has been placed on a leave of absence while the incident is being investigated.

Below is the statement from Interim President Dr. Greg Schulz released by the Fullerton Community College, via USA Today:

The president of Fullerton College said in a statement posted on the college’s website that it is investigating the incident and that the man involved is not a student.

Here is the president’s statement:

  • “Fullerton College is initiating an independent investigation into an incident that occurred on October 13, 2016 at approximately 2:45 p.m., between a campus safety officer and a man unaffiliated with Fullerton College.
  • The campus safety officer is being placed on a leave of absence while we work to answer all questions related to this incident.
  • Videos circulating on social media raise many questions. The videos are partial records of the incident and we are working to fully investigate the interaction. We cannot comment further on the incident because it is a personnel matter.
  • I am fully committed to the safety and well-being of all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus, and it is my personal mission to make Fullerton College a welcoming and safe place. If that safety is ever challenged, we will take swift measures to restore security and investigate allegations.”

According to the Campus Safety Department website, campus officers generally provide services like rendering first aid, providing directions and escort services, and opening locked vehicles.

“The Campus Safety Department is committed to providing the highest standard of professionalism and service,” reads the department’s mission statement.

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