WATCH: Home cameras catch cops beating arrestee

Alan Bernal and his girlfriend Tanya Shiroma’s home security system recorded four police officers kicking, punching, and stomping on a man for minutes after he was subdued. Mr. Bernal also witnessed the beating outside his Dededo home within seconds of the assault.

“They just kept kicking and beating him,” he said. “He wasn’t doing anything. He wasn’t resisting or anything. They were even trying to pull the helmet off his head hard after they beat him.”

The man, Joshua P. Taitano, was flagged by police a few streets down allegedly for speeding on a motorcycle around 5 a.m. Tuesday, August 22. Mr. Taitano allegedly refused to stop and attempted to elude police officers before one of the patrol cars hit the motorcycle in front of Bernal and Shiroma’s home, causing Mr. Taitano to fall.

Video surveillance shows Taitano getting up and running toward the gate of the home before three officers tackle him and begin to punch, shove, and kick him. He eventually falls to the ground, where the officers are seen kicking and stomping on him. A fourth officer then arrives and watches the assault before that officer appears to stomp and kick toward the ground.

Mr. Bernal said that was the lone female officer; the other three were men.

The homeowner witnessed the police officers pull Taitano’s helmet off, and it was then that Bernal recognized Taitano, whom he knows. At the time, he said, Mr. Taitano did not appear to have any abrasions or other injuries to his face.

“I told the police, ‘you better call the ambulance. You better take him to the hospital. I think he needs to see a doctor,’” he said. But, according to Mr. Bernal, the officers took Mr. Taitano into one of the patrol cars and left.

No other officers came to the scene to survey the area until highway patrol officers arrived about 14 or 15 hours later, according to Mr. Bernal and Ms. Shiroma’s home surveillance system. The cops also left the damaged motorcycle on the lawn of the neighbor’s home.

According to official records, Mr. Taitano was taken to the Dededo police precinct, where he was kept until medics arrived and took him to Guam Memorial Hospital some time after 6 a.m.

According to sources, the police officers who escorted him told hospital officials Mr. Taitano’s injuries were caused by a motorcycle spill, though a witness to the events told GMH officials the injuries were actually caused by police brutality.

Mr. Taitano was booked and confined to the Department of Corrections, where his mugshot was taken. That mugshot, released to the media showed the man with a black eye, swollen shut. Both Mr. Bernal and another source who claimed to have been with Mr. Taitano shortly before the incident said he did not have any facial injury before the police assault.

Among the charges are allegations Mr. Taitano eluded police, resisted arrest, and was in possession of methamphetamine.

Though Kandit and other island media have provided the surveillance footage to the Guam Police Department, none of the officers involved have been charged.

GPD spokeswoman Berlyn Savella, however, said the acting chief of police, Joe Carbullido, has ordered an internal affairs investigation. The officers have not been placed on administrative leave pending that investigation.

The incident, along with the surveillance footage, has been reported to the Guam Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and to the Office of the Attorney General of Guam, and Kandit has confirmed a criminal review is ongoing.