A father plans to sue local authorities in Washington after a viral video appeared to show a police officer viciously beating him during an arrest, an incident that he claims left him with a concussion and a brain injury.
Mauro Alberto Felix Valles, 33, filed a notice of claim against the City of Auburn, a legal precursor to a lawsuit, for his arrest on Oct. 28. The claim alleges that Police Officer Andrew Bryant tasered and punched Valles more than 20 times.
The Auburn Police Department released Bryant’s bodycam footage, which shows the officer exiting his vehicle and ordering Valles to the ground. Valles, who was in the middle of traffic without a shirt, did not comply. The claim states that Valles "speaks Spanish and does not speak or understand English."
Bryant then deployed his Taser, and Valles collapsed to the ground screaming. The video shows Bryant repeatedly punching Valles before his camera fell. Valles could be heard continuing to scream, and another individual in the background yelled, "He doesn’t understand!"
Prosecutors recently dropped charges of disorderly conduct, attempted assault, and possession of a controlled substance against Valles, though they have not ruled out filing new charges, according to KOMO News.
The legal notice alleged that Bryant "struck [Valles] in the head and face with his fists at least two dozen times," adding that "the force was unnecessary and excessive." Valles’ lawyer, Evan Oshan, told The Post that the blows were intensified because Valles’ head struck the pavement after each hit.
Valles suffered a "concussion (mild traumatic brain injury), contusions to the face, multiple other contusions and a Taser dart wound to the left upper abdomen," the notice stated. He was hospitalized and continues to experience pain, confusion, fear, and emotional distress, according to the claim.
Oshan stated that Valles was seeking help when he was arrested and that drug tests found no substances in Valles’ system. "He was approaching the officer for help. It was a mental health call. It was complete shock to him when he got electrocuted and brutally beaten," Oshan said.
Oshan is seeking a criminal investigation into Bryant and wants the officer fired. The Auburn Police Department stated that the Renton Police are conducting a criminal probe into Bryant, while Auburn is conducting an internal investigation. Bryant has been placed on administrative leave during the internal investigation.
According to Fox 13 Seattle, Bryant was responding to a report of someone running through traffic and attempting to enter vehicles. In the bodycam footage, Bryant can be heard telling other officers that he believed Valles might have been reaching for his firearm. "At one point, I felt him, I think he grabbed my gun. I’m not 100% sure," he said. "I think he tried to, or did grab at least, my holster. So, I just started delivering strikes until he stopped."
Oshan maintained that Valles was not attempting to harm anyone or enter vehicles. A spokesperson for the city of Auburn declined to comment. The state Attorney General's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is unknown who represents Bryant.
Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus acknowledged that the footage was "difficult to watch" and understood "why it has raised serious concerns."