Man, 85, Says He Was Roughed Up By Glendale Police After Resisting Arrest

GLENDALE (CBSLA.com) —  Glendale police say they are conducting an internal investigation after an 85-year-old man came forward to say he was abused, manhandled and roughed up after jaywalking.

The incident, which occurred on Verdugo Street, was captured on cell phone video by students at Glendale High School.

Blas Acevedo told CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Serene Branson that he was surprised that a school resource officer approached him about jaywalking.

On the video, the school resource officer can be heard saying, "Turn around and put your hands behind your back for me."

Acevedo did not immediately comply. The man then goes into a planter.

"I am an old man. He was trying to break my arms," he told Branson.

Speaking at his Glendale apartment, Acevedo said he was a WWII vet and is hardly a threat.

He admitted he resisted because he didn't want his arms handcuffed behind his back. "I really resisted because I have never committed a crime."

Glendale police say the cell phone video does not show what happened before the tape started recording.

Says Sgt. Tom Lorenz of the Glendale Police department. "At one point, he wanted his license back. He used profanity. He actually pushed the officer a couple of times."

Branson asked Acevedo is he pushed the officer. He didn't hesitate. "I didn't push anybody!"

Glendale police say audio recordings prove Acevedo pushed the officer. And they also say students weren't out of school in time to witness the incident from the beginning.

A witness to the entire incident reportedly told police he saw Acevedo push the officer.

An investigation will determine if police used appropriate force.

The officer is still on the job.

Acevedo was cited for misdemeanor resisting arrest. He has not filed a formal complaint.