7 Months Later: Austin Police Officers Caught on Video Beating Unarmed, Handcuffed Latino Man Given Light Punishment

 
An Austin police officer caught on tape beating a handcuffed suspect will face disciplinary action starting Thursday. This comes after a jury cleared him of any wrongdoing last month. It might sound like an about face situation, but starting Thursday, 28-year-old Officer Christopher Gray starts a 70-day suspension for his use of force. A police car dash cam captured video of three officers arresting and beating 25-year-old Ramon Hernandez after he left the scene of an accident, resisted arrest and reached for an officer's gun. In the video, you can see Gray punch Hernandez 14 times in the lower back while he's handcuffed. Just last month, a jury cleared him and a second officer of official oppression. Late Wednesday, the department's disciplinary review board took its own action, suspending Gray without pay for 70 days. Hernandez's attorney, Amber Vasquez Bode, said that Wednesday's disciplinary action is late. "I find it disturbing that it took seven months before APD took any measures at all," Bode said. She argues the system is plagued by accountability problems and that few knew the videotape existed. She also argues no Austin police officer has ever been convicted under the official oppression statute. "I don't think there is one solution for this. I think we're going to have to come together as a community and lay down the standards. This is how we're going to hold officers accountable in Austin," Bode said. After the suspension, Gray will be able to return to the force. Travis County prosecutors also dismissed the official oppression charge against rookie Austin police officer Joel Follmer, who had been indicted in the videotaped beating of a handcuffed suspect last year. Follmer, 38 was shown on the video delivering a series of punches to the back of Ramon Hernandez's legs on Sept. 21. Hernandez said during the trial that he is considering filing a civil lawsuit against the city. [MORE] and [MORE]