Police beating of homeless man sparks outrage amid SJ mayor’s push to arrest unhoused

Less than a week after Mayor Matt Mahan announced a bold push to arrest homeless people who refuse help, disturbing videos show San Jose police officers beating and verbally taunting an elderly homeless man —  leading to a complaint from the local NAACP chapter.

At least six police surrounded a homeless man on Fruitdale Avenue between Leigh Avenue and Southwest Expressway around 8 p.m. on Monday. Multiple videos posted online show an officer pushing his knee onto the homeless man’s upper torso, while he is laying on the floor, his arms and face wrapped in a sweater. At one point, one officer throws five forceful punches while the other officers are holding him down. Officers are also heard on video making remarks about the man’s hygiene and sexual innuendo after the beating occurred. Officers also tried to hinder a bystander from recording.