Use of Force or Abuse of Force?

Videographer and independent journalist Brent Adams filmed a late-night arrest of two intoxicated men on a bench on Pacific Avenue.

After one of the men began kicking the arresting officer and his car, he was thrown, or propelled to the ground by the officer, Daniel Vasquez.

Santa Cruz Police are investigating whether this was an abuse of force. An independent auditor and a community commission are also examining it.

Comments on the video show how split the community is. There are those who think the officer did the right thing in protecting himself and getting a possible dangerous person off the street. Others call it harassment and think the officer used too much force.

It's something one has to watch carefully to decide. Adams makes his point of view clear in his comments and writing with the video.  He says the officer "'spun him' slamming the mans face into the sidewalk."

The man, Richard Hardy, who has a long record of arrests for being publicy intoxicated, was released from the hospital.

Deputy Police Chief Rick Martinez said the officer was doing what it took to protect himself from someone who was kicking him and not cooperating.

"The whole story is he was injured while resisting police," said Martinez. "That's really what it comes down to. It's not like we can definitively say that the officer threw him to the ground intentionally."

Martinez added that such arrests and injuries are common. Six Santa Cruz officers are on medical leaves, several as a result of people resisting arrest.

He added that the use of force in the video has polarized the community.

"You can tell the officer is trying to control him better," said Martinez. "It's hard to tell if the suspect's actions led to the loss of control. The officer didn't grab him and throw him. It's hard to tell because the door is open. We have to review it at great length.

"It's a difficult job when we encounter a level of resistance," he continued. "Sadly, people get injured. We try not to injure people. We provided immediate medical care. You could tell the officer was concerned for the suspect."

Why was one suspect set to go to the hospital and the other to the jail?

Because the other man told the officer about a litany of medical conditions he had and the jail wouldn't take him, Martinez said.

Why was the officer bothering someone the cameraman said was peacefully sitting on a bench at 1 a.m.?

"The officer driving by saw one man passed out and one intoxicated. They had mostly consumed a bottle of vodka. He was concerned they were going to take a header or walk into traffic."