Community pleads for change following violent confrontation caught on camera

In the first Salinas City Council meeting since a video of a violent confrontation between police and a Salinas man went viral, many brought their concerns to the podium.

“I’m not here to bash officers. I’m here to beg the city to raise awareness for mental illness,” Brandy Hurst said.

Last Friday night, police were called to the middle of North Main St. on reports of Jose Velasco beating a woman and trying to drag her into traffic. That woman was Rita Acosta, Velasco’s mom. His family told News Channel 5 he suffers from a mental illness.

The situation escalated into a violent arrest, with officers using a Taser and batons. It was all caught on cell phone video.

On Tuesday night, Rita Acosta publicly shared her side of the story.

“Why didn’t they hear him yelling out for help. ‘Mom, mom, help me.’ He wasn’t trying to hurt me,” she said.

Council Member Jose Castaneda made a motion to talk more about police department policies, but none of the other council members seconded it.

“I didn’t second the motion is because we don’t have all of the information,” Council member Tony Barrera said.

But it is clear, Barrera said, that the community is hurting.

“Some of the people that spoke, they were sure of the police officers, but at the same time, there’s something wrong here,” Barrera said.

The police department has said an internal investigation is underway, but Castaneda said residents deserve more.

“Maybe it is taking place, but it isn’t publicly. And that’s not the discussion residents of the city want,” Castaneda said.

Salinas resident Pamela Weston said something needs to change.

“People get hurt, and we don’t trust each other,” Weston said.

She’s calling for a more sensitive conversation, involving experts in mental illness.

“So hopefully what we can do is have people involved that can educate, teach and reach people so that this will be the last time we have to deal with this,” Weston said.

At the end of the meeting, Castaneda asked the mayor to schedule a public meeting about community trust with the police department.

The Acosta family said they’re willing to call for a federal investigation to get the truth out.