Video: Glendale Cops Placed On Leave After Teen's Violent Arrest

GLENDALE, CA — The Glendale Police Department put four officers on administrative leave Thursday after a video emerged showing them beating a teen shoplifting suspect in a busy store at the Glendale Galleria.

The video shows one officer kicking the boy in the head while two men in plain clothes repeatedly punch him in the head. Startled onlookers can be heard screaming during the arrest, and the boy begs for help.

“I can’t breathe! Stop,” he shouts. “Get off of me! Get off of me, please.”

The officers can be heard ordering the teen not to resist arrest. The incident occurred Saturday night just after 7 p.m. at Dick's Sporting Goods, and it involved multiple uniformed and plainclothes officers.

The Glendale Police Department issued a statement in response to the graphic video.

"While attempting to detain the suspect, a struggle ensued and force was used by the officers," the statement said. “An investigation into the incident, including all actions taken by the officers during the arrest process, was immediately initiated and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is being conducted.”

The Officers responded at about 7:10 p.m. to a theft that had just occurred inside a business in the mall and located the suspect inside the sporting goods store, according to the statement from the Glendale Police Department. Stolen merchandise was recovered from the suspect, and he was arrested for suspicion of petty theft and resisting an officer by force, police said.

"Glendale police officers are held to a high standard and we work hard to maintain the trust of our community,” the department said. “We take these types of incidents very seriously. Appropriate actions will be taken following the investigation."

The police department is asking anyone who witnessed the incident to call the police at 818-548-4911.