Beating Of Suspect By Deputies In San Francisco Prompts 3 Separate Investigations
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Three different law enforcement agencies are investigating an incident last week in which two Alameda County sheriff's deputies beat a suspect with batons after he led police on a high-speed chase from unincorporated San Leandro to San Francisco, a sheriff's spokesman said Tuesday.
Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said his agency is investigating what happened with 29-year-old Stanislav Petrov in Alameda County early Thursday morning, while the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco District Attorney's Office are investigating what happened when the two deputies confronted him in the city's Mission District.
In addition, the sheriff's office is conducting an administrative and internal affairs investigation of the deputies' use of force on Petrov, Kelly said.
Sheriff's officials were prepared to release the deputies' names but the deputies' attorneys have received a cease-and-desist order barring their names from being released at this time, Kelly said. The deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave.
Kelly said the incident started at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday when deputies who were patrolling a hotel parking lot in the 17200 block of Foothill Boulevard spotted a stolen 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan.
When they approached the vehicle, the suspect inside, later identified as Petrov, started the car and ignored orders to stop. He then allegedly rammed two patrol cars, injuring one deputy and disabling his vehicle, Kelly said.
Petrov then led deputies on a chase on Interstate Highway 580 into Oakland and then west toward San Francisco, crossing the Bay Bridge at speeds of more than 100 mph, Kelly said.
Petrov exited the freeway in San Francisco, struck a parked car on a city street and fled on foot before he was captured, according to Kelly.
Surveillance camera footage made public by the San Francisco Public Defender's Office on Friday shows the deputies hitting Petrov with their batons multiple times.
During the video, Petrov can be heard groaning and saying, "Oh my God!" and "Please!" multiple times.
Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods, whose office will represent Petrov if charges are filed against him, said in a statement that Petrov appeared to be surrendering when the deputies beat him and that he thinks the deputies used excessive force.
Kelly said deputies who searched the Mercedes-Benz that Petrov had been driving found a loaded gun and drugs for sale.
There also are warrants for Petrov for alleged crimes elsewhere in California, according to Kelly.
Petrov is still at San Francisco General Hospital, where he is under police guard while he's treated for the injuries he suffered in the incident.
Kelly said sheriff's officials "are going out of our way" to make sure that Petrov's mother, Olga Petrova of San Francisco, has been able to visit him in the hospital.
He said, "She's concerned about her son and we're making sure she has access to him."
Referring to the three separate and simultaneous investigations, Kelly said, "We're doing everything we can to provide information and be honest and transparent so that the public is informed and is assured that law enforcement is doing the right thing because the public's trust is important when we do our job."
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