Four Glendale police officers were on administrative leave Thursday morning after video surfaced of the rough arrest of a 17-year-old shoplifting suspect at the Glendale Galleria.
Video of the Saturday night arrest inside the Dick’s Sporting Goods store showed three plainclothes officers and one in uniform attempting to arrest the teenager, with two officers striking the boy in the head and another kicking him in the face.
Officers responded about 7:10 p.m. to a theft that had just occurred inside a business in the mall and located the suspect inside the sporting goods store, according to a statement from the Glendale Police Department.
“While attempting to detain the suspect, a struggle ensued and force was used by the officers,” the statement said.
Stolen merchandise was recovered from the suspect, and he was arrested for suspicion of petty theft and resisting an officer by force, police said.
“Glendale police officers are held to a high standard and we work hard to maintain the trust of our community,” the department said in a statement issued Wednesday morning.
“We take these types of incidents very seriously. Appropriate actions will be taken following the investigation.”
Anyone who witnessed this incident or has additional video was asked to call police at 818-548-4911.
