Photo Courtesy of Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) released video footage of an incident involving NBA player Jaxson Hayes and officers who used a stun gun on the New Orleans Pelicans center.
According to The Associated Press, the incident occurred at a residence in LA’s Woodland Hills neighborhood on July 28 around 3 a.m. after police received a call reporting a domestic dispute.
When the police arrived and started to question Hayes about his girlfriend, the player stated the couple “were just having a little argument” and said, “she was throwing some stuff at me.”
Police asked to speak with Hayes’s girlfriend and asked him to stand outside.
The situation quickly escalated after officers grabbed Hayes’s arms, with multiple officers attempting to subdue him.
As they tackled the baller to the ground, Hayes’ girlfriend came out of the home to urge police to stop.
“Stop! Stop! What are you doing?” she screamed.
Hayes was on his back with an officer placing their knee on his neck for several seconds. The athlete gasped “I can’t breathe” multiple times before the officer finally removed his knee.
The officers constantly threatened to use their Tasers while Hayes was on the ground.
“Stop resisting, or I’m gonna tase you,” the officer repeated before firing the stun gun on Hayes.
Hayes was later arrested on accusations of resisting arrest and taken to the hospital to be evaluated for injuries, AP reported.
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The July incident is being investigated over “the possibility of force being applied to [Hayes]’s neck during the use of force in taking him into custody,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore told
KCAL.In his recent statement, Hayes’ attorney Mark Baute said, “Jaxson Hayes is a nice young man, and he is back home in Ohio working out and getting ready for the upcoming season.”
See the full video of the Jaxson Hayes incident below :