Emotions run high after Velasco court appearance

On Wednesday, the man at the center of a brutal confrontation with police made his first court appearance since Friday’s incident. This was the first time Jose Velasco’s family has seen him since the brutal confrontation that was caught on tape.

It was an emotionally charged day as the family of Jose Velasco, 28, recall what happened on No. Main Street last week.

“My son is screaming for help,” Rita Acosta said. “Is he touching me? Yes?”

Acosta said her son has schizophrenia and depression, and had a mental episode when he acted out. Salinas police said they were responding to reports of a man trying to throw a woman into traffic.

“I called for help,” Acosta said. “But they heard people say a woman (was) beaten but not a mothers cry for help. Right? Because it’s a better story?”

After two attempts to control him with a Taser, officers resorted to batons.

With tears in their eyes, Wednesday was the first time family members saw Velasco since his arrest. It was a brief court appearance, with Velasco walking out of the courtroom on crutches, arguably as a result of Friday’s confrontation.

“We are not saying that my brother is an angel in any shape or form,” his sister, Sabrina Velasco said. “What we are saying is that he didn’t deserve that beating.”

Outside of the Monterey County Superior Court, people were holding signs and protesting police brutality. Some demanding officers apologize.

“I think he should apologize to the family,” family friend Sherry Lyn said. “I’m sure he didn’t mean to do what he did but it sure didn’t look like it.”

“People make mistakes,” Sabrina Velasco said. “But people also own up to mistakes. Plain and simple.”