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LAPD Investigating Whether Officers Used Excessive Force In Woodland Hills Arrest Of NBA Player Jaxson Hayes

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – Los Angeles police are launching a categorical use of force investigation into the arrest last week of New Orleans Pelicans player Jaxson Hayes at a home in Woodland Hills.

Jaxson Hayes
Jaxson Hayes #10 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball down court during the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Smoothie King Center on April 09, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

LAPD Chief Michel Moore Tuesday said that the Hayes case involves "the possibility of force being applied to the suspect's neck during the use of force in taking him into custody."

Categorical use of force investigations often concern incidents of deadly force by officers. The use of force was initially investigated as non- categorical, which is a lower level use of force, but investigators discovered that Hayes made a complaint that "he could not breathe, that there was a constraint or restriction on his neck," Moore said.

The incident was purportedly captured on police bodycam video, but it has not yet been released. The LAPD has 45 days to do so. TMZ has also obtained cell phone video of the arrest. The video shows Hayes on the ground struggling with three officers on the front porch of the home.

The 21-year-old Hayes was arrested on July 28 at about 2:50 a.m. when officers responded to a domestic dispute call at a home in the 22000 block of Mariano Street.

Officers arrived on scene to find Hayes in the front yard of the home. According to police, officers told Hayes that he needed to remain outside while they entered the home and spoke with the alleged victim.

According to police, Hayes ignored their commands and repeatedly tried to enter the home, resulting in a physical altercation.

At one point, he broke free and pushed an officer into the wall, police said. The officers eventually used a taser on him twice before they were able to get him into handcuffs.

He was booked into the Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest.

One officer was treated at a hospital for injuries. A woman at the scene "declined to cooperate" with officers regarding the original domestic dispute call, police said.

Hayes, a Texas native, was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has spent his entire professional career with the Pelicans.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)

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