Calif. Sheriff to Investigate Beating By Police Deputies Caught on Video

The San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department is reportedly ordering an internal investigation into an incident caught on video that shows police deputies beating a suspect after catching him on a horse-led chase through the California desert.

Aerial footage of the chase shows several police deputies belonging to the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department chasing 30-year-old Francis Jared Pusok of Apple Valley, while the suspect reportedly rides a horse he had stolen through the mountains of San Bernadino county.

The video footage shows one officer reportedly using a stun gun on the suspect, which shows Pusok fall off the horse and to the ground. Eleven sheriff's deputies then appear to punch and kick the suspect as he is laying on the ground on his stomach with his hands behind his back.

One officer appears to knee the suspect in the groin, while other officers punch and kick Pusok in the sides and head.

According to NBC Los Angeles, the suspect appears to have been kicked by police 17 times and punched by police 37 times. The media outlet reports that 13 of the hits apper to be to Pusok's head.

San Bernadino County Sheriff John McMahon said Friday that those involved in the incident have been placed on leave pending an internal investigation.

According to the Los Angeles Times, McMahon indicated that he found some of the moves used by police against Pusok to be "excessive."

"I am disturbed and troubled by what I see," he said. "It does not appear to be in line with our policies and procedures."