LAPD Chief releases 'disturbing' bodycam footage of cop beating an unarmed homeless man in the head while his hands were behind his back (14 Pics)

The Los Angeles Police Department has released bodycam footage that shows an officer repeatedly punching a man in the back of the head while he was being handcuffed.

Officer Frank Hernandez can be seen delivering blows to a trespassing suspect in bodycam video filmed by his fellow officer. 

In the clip, the two appear to be in conversation before the officer suddenly starts attacking him.  

LAPD Officer Frank Hernandez can be seen talking to the suspect outside Church of God of the Prophecy in East LA on April 27

Hernandez tells the suspect, Richard Castillo, to stand with his hands behind his back 

The suspect does not appear to be fighting back but the cop is seen delivering a series of punches outside Church of God of the Prophecy, before pausing and then starting again. 

'I intend to… hold individuals accountable for behavior that is inconsistent with the high standards of this organization,' said LAPD chief Michel Moore who called the video 'disturbing'.

'I, along with many of you, watched the third-party video that was released last week, and I have serious concerns,' Moore said. 

The officer requests the suspect to put his hands behind his back but then things change

The officer can be seen punching the man repeatedly in the head and body, despite the fact that he did not appear to be struggling or armed

At least a dozen punches flew from the officers fist as the man stayed more or less still 

'I don't believe that anything that is shown in this critical incident video will change that description by me or any others.' 

Hernandez, who is now the subject of an LAPD investigation by Internal Affairs appears to hit the suspect more than a dozen times. 

The man does not attempt to fight back and appears to have his hands covering his head the whole time 

Meanwhile, his female colleague can be heard calling for backup. 

'You f****** grabbed my hand m***********, that's why I hit you,' Hernandez shouts at the man. 

The footage was all caught on police bodycam by Hernandez's female partner officer

The officer throwa overhand punches to the back of the suspect’s head while shouting profanities

Eventually, fellow officers arrive on scene to calm the situation down 

Later in the video, other officers arrive on the scene to calm the situation down.  

A representative for the officer said the man had struggled with him earlier and he believed he was under attack.

'The use of force is justified because the officer believed he was under attack from the suspect… even though you might think the suspect wasn't fighting back at that time, he wasn't complying either,' LAPD attorney David Winslow said.

The suspect had been accused of sleeping in a tent on a private property when he was arrested in Boyle Heights on the 2400 block of Houston Street on April 27. 

The man had refused to leave the area, according to audio captured by Hernandez's partner's body-worn camera. 

Hernandez then ordered the man to turn around, and the man seems to struggle briefly, knocking Hernandez's camera to the ground.  

The incident was also caught on camera from across the street on cellphone video

Hernandez's partner's video camera captures the rest of the incident clearly and the pair struggle with one another.

A supervising officer looked at the bodycam footage and the preliminary investigation was passed on to his commanding officer and then Internal Affairs.

Cell phone footage from a member of the public across the street was also captured of the incident.   

Internal Affairs started a formal investigation due to the 'serious nature of the alleged misconduct'.

The suspect was later released from custody and wasn't charged. Police said they have not determined whether the suspect was armed.

'Anytime you see someone with their hands behind their back and getting hit in the head like that multiple times, that is disturbing. As a human being, I look at that and say, 'How did this happen? What led up to this?' Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said Monday. 

The suspect is seen bending over to protect himself. Both the cop and suspected ended up with injuries

A witness was recording the incident from across the street. A fellow officer is seen calling over radio before more cops show up shortly afterwards

'But as the lead prosecutor in the D.A.'s office, I know that I need to exercise judgment in what I say publicly, because I don't want this office disqualified or recused for prejudging the evidence. So I'm waiting to see all of what's out there.' 

Officer Hernandez has been placed on home duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

LAPD said both the suspect, who was identified as Richard Castillo, and the officer received injuries as a result of the incident.

'He was raised about two houses down from that vacant lot. He has a tremendous support system around him in that neighborhood,' said attorney Wesley Ouchi to the LA Times. He  described Castillo as 'well-liked and well-known' in the area. 

'At that location the two officers made contact with a male trespass suspect and directed him to leave the private property,' the police statement said.

'During the course of the investigation a physical altercation occurred between the suspect and one of the officers, resulting in the officer receiving minor injuries to his hand. The suspect had abrasions to his head and face but refused medical attention.'