California dad 'begged for his life' as police beat him to death – witnesses

OFF THE WIRE
http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/california-dad-begged-for-his-life-as-police-beat-him-to-death-witnesses/32604/

http://rt.com/usa/begged-for-life-cops-beat-126/

A California father of four died Wednesday shortly after a group of police allegedly beat him with batons as he lay defenseless on the sidewalk. Cops, before confiscating witness’ cameras, also reportedly unleashed a canine unit on him.

David Sal Silva, 33, allegedly resisted when police approached
him to ask if he was who neighbors called about to complain of an
intoxicated man in the area. The officers called for backup and,
witnesses told the Bakersfield Californian, Silva was soon being
beaten in the face and upper body by as many as nine policemen and
their batons. At least one of the cops reportedly held a German
Shepherd on a leash nearby.

Witnesses who had recorded the events on their cell phone
cameras had the devices confiscated by officers, who claimed the
footage was part of a police investigation that could yield
evidence. The Sherriff’s Department has released the names of seven
officers who were on the scene, but the identities of the
California Highway Patrol police who were also there have not yet
been made public.

“When I got outside I saw two officers beating a man with
batons, and they were hitting his head so every time they would
swing, I could hear the blows to his head,” said witness Ruben
Ceballos, who told the Californian the noise was so loud it woke
him up.

“His body was just lying on the street and before the
ambulance arrived one of the officers performed CPR on him and
another used a flashlight on his eyes but I’m sure he was already
dead.”

Police have refused to comment, citing an ongoing investigation
that could take years to complete, but relatives have demanded the
cell phone footage be made public.

“My brother spent the last eight minutes of his life
pleading, begging for his life,” said Christopher Silva, 31.
“The true evidence is in those phone witnesses that apparently
the sheriff deputies already took. But I know the truth will come
out and my brother’s voice will be heard.”

An autopsy was completed Thursday but the cause of death’s
release is pending a toxicology report and microscopic studies, the
local coroner’s office told the Bakersfield Californian
Friday.

The family has hired attorney David Cohn, who told reporters
they plan to file a civil rights lawsuit in federal district court
next week. He sent a letter formally requesting that law
enforcement agencies do not tamper with the video evidence on the
phones.

“We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words,”
Cohn said. “And thank God we have concerned citizens who take
video and pictures of incidents like