UPDATE: Interviews with police and suspect’s mother after violent confrontation on Friday caught on tape

A video clip from several viewers of a violent confrontation between Salinas police officers and a Salinas man was given to NewsChannel 5 over the weekend.

Some are asking whether the incident began with a mental break or a meth-induced outburst by 28-year-old Jose Velasco. In this case, it depends on who you ask and we’re hearing two very different stories from both sides.

On Friday evening, police were called out to N. Main Street and Bernal. Police said they responded to reports of a man beating a woman and trying to drag her into traffic. That woman was Rita Acosta. She also called police because she needed help controlling her son, Jose Velasco, who she said was having a mental episode. She said he is schizophrenic and has depression.

“The look on his face,” Acosta said, “He was terrified. So scared of whatever it was. I want everyone to know he wasn’t trying to hurt me, he wasn’t trying to hurt anybody else.”

However, police said he wouldn’t respond to their commands.

“Velasco was able to grab onto an officer’s Taser on his belt and physically tear it from his belt,” Salinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin said.

Police said Velasco had unnatural strength and intolerance to pain. Eventually, during a hospital interview, police said Velasco admitted to smoking meth and drinking alcohol before the incident.

Two attempts to subdue him with a Taser didn’t work. That’s when they said they had to take it to the next level.

“It is shocking and while it is a terrible thing,” Chief McMillin explains, “Sometimes it becomes necessary to take somebody who is presenting a real threat to the community into custody.”

According to police, Velasco’s violent outburst didn’t end there. They said he attacked a paramedic and another cop on the way to the hospital. An eyewitness who asked not to be identified said she was driving on No. Main Street and was forced to stop as the scene unfolded.

“It was very traumatic to watch,” she said. “I just know it was a lot of punching was uncalled for.”

For Acosta, the most important thing is all of this is for her son to get the help he needs.

“I kept yelling and telling them he was mentally ill,” Acosta said. “Everybody is passing judgement on what they see, but nobody was listening. They didn’t hear my son yelling for help.”

There are two investigations ongoing right now. The first reviews Velasco’s conduct leading up to police being called to the scene. The second is whether Salinas police officers’ use of force was justified. No word how long that investigation will take. All of the officers involved are still on duty.