New information about man at center of Salinas police confrontation

On Thursday, Salinas police revealed new details about the man at the center of a brutal police confrontation. That includes 911 calls from more than a dozen witnesses to Jose Velasco’s behavior last Friday.

Police say Velasco was not drunk, but toxicology reports show he was high on meth during the incident on No. Main Street. Medical records show he was diagnosed with specified drug-induced psychotic disorder. We learned that because Velasco himself signed a release to make that information public.

His family says he had a mental episode on Friday. That episode ended with police having to use their batons to subdue and arrest him.

“This is a horrible example of police excessive force and there’s no justification for it,” civil right attorney John Burris said.

Burris says he believes Velasco’s rights were violated. He and Velasco’s family briefly met with reporters outside of the Salinas Police Department, where more than a dozen people protested police brutality.

“I’m tired of this injustice,” protester Edward Garcia said. “I’m tired of the police brutality. I’m tired of the extent of how it’s just a weekly type of thing now.”

In the days since that incident, Chief Kelly McMillin has asked the Monterey County DA’s Office to handle the use of force investigation. It’s in an effort to be transparent with the community, including the newly ordered body cameras.

“Since this incident,” Chief McMillin explained, “Officers have been lining up to get cameras. They want to take them out even without the training, saying ‘Show me how to turn the thing on and I’ll wear it.'”

Another YouTube video has surfaced, showing what appears to be a bag over Velasco’s head. The so-called “spit sock” is a mesh bag to protect officers from getting spit on.

“Just because he has a criminal record of because he’s mentally impaired,” Burris explained, “Does not justify the use of excessive force.”

But for those who saw Velasco before police showed up, their perspective on things was a lot different.