Father of 4 claims Santa Monica police officers used excessive force

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- Justin Palmer claims he was wrongly arrested at Virginia Avenue Park in Santa Monica last month as he charged his electric Nissan Leaf.

"I felt like this was the worst possible day ever," Palmer said.

Santa Monica police officers allegedly approached him and told him it was after 11 p.m. and the park was closed. Palmer, however, says it wasn't 11 p.m. yet.

"At that point, he asked for my ID," Palmer said. "I was like, 'Why? What did I do?'"

His ID was inside his car, but he didn't say that.

"I felt like if I went in the car to get my ID, I would have got shot," Palmer told Eyewitness News.

The officers placed him in handcuffs.

"While I'm handcuffed, he swept my legs underneath me, threw me to the ground and I landed on my head," Palmer said. "At that point, I blacked out."

Wendy Zaw shot footage of Palmer's arrest on her cellphone, moments after witnessing what she calls excessive force.

"I see at least one of the punches and I heard several more punches," Zaw said.

Palmer was eventually booked and spent the night behind bars. After he was released, the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office sent him a letter saying he wouldn't be facing any charges.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People says this incident is outrageous.

"The police department saying that this happened within policy. Our organization says they have to change their policy," said Darrell Goode, NAACP Santa Monica Branch President.

Palmer, a father of four, says he's suffering from a head injury, bulging discs and a sprained knee. He hasn't worked since the arrest.

"I can't really stand up too long," Palmer said.

Palmer has retained an attorney and says he's considering suing the Santa Monica Police Department. The department told Eyewitness News they do not comment on pending litigation.