South LA man's death raises police brutality questions

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A South Los Angeles man who died after a confrontation with police is raising questions about the use of excessive force.

Abrego's godmother said police treated him like an animal.

"Where is their humanity?" she said in Spanish at Abrego's Friday memorial.

On Aug. 2, 37-year-old Abrego was driving erratically, narrowly missing a pedestrian. He got out of his car just feet from his home, then tried to flee, police said.

That's when a confrontation with two anti-gang police sergeants began. Police ultimately arrested Abrego in the 6900 block of South Main Street, but he ended up with a laceration on his face.

Abrego died in the hospital 12 hours after the struggle. Two officers were injured. One was still home recovering from his injuries.

A cell phone video shows Abrego in a struggle with police. Witnesses said it looked like police used excessive force.

"I'm outraged. It's not just our family. It's a lot of families are going through this," Abrego's friend Francisco Catalan said.

Just down the street, protests were held over the shooting of Ezell Ford, who was killed in a confrontation with officers from the LAPD Newton Division days after Abrego died.

The Los Angeles Police Department said investigations into both deaths are underway.