San Jose police officer under investigation for behavior during George Floyd protests

A San Jose police officer has been taken off the street and is now under an Internal Affairs investigation after video surfaced of him appearing to taunt protesters on Friday.

Monday, June 1, 2020
SJ police officer under investigation for behavior during protests
A San Jose police officer has been taken off the street and is now under an Internal Affairs investigation, after video surfaced of him appearing to taunt protestors on Friday.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A San Jose police officer has been taken off the street and is now under an Internal Affairs investigation, after video surfaced of him appearing to taunt George Floyd protesters on Friday.

Two videos of the officer have exploded on Twitter, and the complaints had an impact at San Jose City Hall Sunday evening.

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Amid the chaotic crowds in downtown Los Angeles, video shows several pedestrians surrounding a police cruiser and two of them getting struck as the SUV tried to escape.

Protestors say, "This is funny to them, they're having a blast, they have smiles on their faces."

He runs away, and back, and Yuen says, "Let's get this mother___."

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In a second video, a woman asks him, "Why are you on that side?" He answers, "Shut up, ___!"

Seconds later, he reaches around another officer and fires a projectile. The scuffle is on.

Copwatch points out those projectiles, like the one ABC News I-Team reporter Dan Noyes picked up at that same protest on Friday, can be dangerous fired that way.

"They're a crowd control weapon, they're meant to disperse crowds, they're not meant to be fired at close range," says Andrea Pritchett.

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"I'm not happy with his actions, I'm sure if Jared was sitting here he'd be embarrassed as well. But I will tell you, I know Jared and he's a good kid who made a mistake who let his emotions get the better of him," said SJPD Chief Eddie Garcia in a news conference.

The only Asian-American on the San Jose City Council says Officer Yuen should not be fired.

"We have to proceed and call out wrongs, but we need to provide space to win people's hearts and minds and allow them a chance to atone and win allies as we continue on the righteous path," Lan Diep told the I-Team

Public records show that Officer Yuen took home $225,000 dollars last year, if you count overtime and benefits. He's been on the job six years.

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