ALBANY — Video footage from the March 16 clash on First Street from police body cameras was released Wednesday while charges were dropped against three men whose arrests triggered an internal investigation and led to the arrest of one officer and the suspension of two others over alleged brutality.

City Court Judge Holly Trexler, who oversaw the cases against Mario Gorostiza and Armando Sanchez, released the footage that was included in Albany County District Attorney David Soares' motion to dismiss the charges against the two men as well as a third person, Lee Childs, before dropping the charges Gorostiza and Sanchez faced after the 4 a.m. confrontation.

City Judge Gary Stiglmeier dismissed the charges police filed against Childs.

"I think you witnessed the beginning of justice," said lawyer Michael Feit, who represents Gorostiza, after their court appearance Wednesday. "There's no doubt there was a loud party. That's not a reason to kick someone's door down and beat three people."

Attorneys for the three men were contacted after prosecutors determined there was "serious exculpatory evidence contained in the footage" and wanted to show the attorneys the video.

Soares had requested the dismissal of all charges, which included inciting a riot, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstruction of governmental administration and endangering the welfare of a child, "in the interest of justice."

Feit emphasized Trexler's reasons for dismissal hinged on the fact that there was no basis for the charges as well as the serious misconduct on the part of police officers.

"In this case, that's what this is because of the modern technology of video cameras, body cameras, we have now seen something that few people see but many people endure," he said.

Police leaders say the body camera footage captures the alleged brutality.

The case against the men crumbled after an internal investigation of the March 16 incident became an investigation of the police involved.

A criminal complaint filed in City Court against Officer Luke Deer, who joined the department in 2014, accuses him of using his baton to hit Sanchez in the face and head during an attack that, according to the charges, was unjustified. The assault caused bleeding and bruises, the complaint states.

Deer is charged with felony assault and a misdemeanor count of official misconduct.

Two other officers, including Officer Matthew Seeber, were suspended without pay, city officials announced Tuesday. City officials have so far declined to identify the third officer, and have failed to give a reason why, though the department as a regular practice has released the names of officers put on suspension.

Deer pleaded not guilty. He was released and faces a Monday court appearance. The Albany police officers' union posted on its Facebook page Tuesday night a statement supporting the officers.

Both Police Chief Eric Hawkins as well as Soares have said more charges could come as they dive deeper into the evidence available — from additional body camera footage to dash cameras and witness interviews.

The initial police complaint filed in the city is cited repeatedly in the prosecutor's motion to dismiss the charges.

March 16 incident

Police arrived that morning at 523 First St. in response to a loud party, court documents say. Police have frequently visited the location for noise and criminal complaints, according to documents within the motion to dismiss for Sanchez.

Officer Jacob Sopchak first approached the home and spoke with Childs, 42, who said he'd get his identification and come back to speak with officer. A few minutes later, Sopchak and Seeber approached the home and knocked on door. Deer arrives seconds later, according to the motion to dismiss.

Seeber asked Childs to open the door several times. Seeber allegedly then kicked open the door and "physically removed" Childs from the home. Childs was taken into custody by Deer and another officer who arrived between four and five minutes later "in a manner that is partially captured on the attached body-worn camera footage."

On Wednesday morning, Trexler released copies of five clips from the officers' body cameras after media requests. The footage does not show what officers found when they first arrived, nor does it show any interviews with witnesses or neighbors.

The clips appear to pick up several minutes after officers arrived, when Childs went back in to the home to get his identification.

In the first clip, Seeber and an unidentified third officer are standing on an enclosed porch trying to enter 523 First St. Seeber knocks on the door, shines a light through the glass and removes a pin from a spray canister.

The officers repeatedly demand that Childs open the door and warn him they will kick down the door if he doesn't comply. Childs, talking through the closed glass door, says he's trying to cooperate but doesn't want officers in his home.

"And I'm going to do that like I always do," he tells the officers, "but we're not going to do that bum rush s___."

"Yeah, we are," Seeber said.

"For what?" Childs asks. "I'm trying to cooperate with you."

The other officer tells Seeber to open the door and says, "I'm ready, snatch him up immediately."

Less than 90 seconds after knocking on the door, Seeber kicks it in and sprays the hallway with a substance that appears to be pepper spray. The officers grab Childs and drag him out on to the porch, where at least two officers begin beating and kicking him as they take him into custody, ordering him to put his hands behind his back. Deer, the officer now facing charges, appears to be one of the officers involved.

Seeber then orders others in the house to back up as he sprays more of the substance into the home before ordering residents to come out.

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At no time does Childs appear to fight back or resist.

The next clip shows Deer getting into a fight with Armando Sanchez. As Sanchez leaves the home, he asks an unidentified officer why he pushed him. He backs up in the street with his hands up, asking why the officer touched him.

Deer comes running from the right, leaving Childs with another officer, and shoves Sanchez onto his back. As Sanchez gets up, Deer moves in and hits the 27-year-old with a baton. Deer keeps hitting Sanchez as the two move across the street. At some point, either Deer strikes himself or Sanchez hits him as he tries to push Deer away, causing Deer's nose to bleed. The video does not clearly show what happened but Deer appeared to be bleeding from the nose. Sanchez falls again and Deer is on top of him, hitting him with his fist and the butt of his baton.

When asked Wednesday afternoon if Deer was punched by any of the men arrested, Soares said, "There's no evidence that we've seen that shows Deer was struck by any of the individuals later arrested."

On the clip unveiled Wednesday, Sanchez repeatedly asks Deer why he is hitting him and tells officers he isn't doing anything as they cuff him.

"I didn't resist, I didn't do nothing," he says.

As officers take Sanchez into custody, Deer gets up and begins walking toward several people who are yelling at him as officers try to get him to calm down.

"Dude, take a f__ing second!" one officer calls out to Deer. " ... Chill the f__ out."

The video of Mario Gorostiza's arrest picks up about 20 minutes after police arrested Childs, based on time stamps. It shows a line of Albany police officers still arguing with residents, including Gorostiza, telling them to go home.

At least four officers begin walking down the street toward Gorostiza and two others. A woman is holding a cellphone, recording the officers; she repeatedly asks them not to arrest Gorostiza.

Gorostiza's arrest can be seen on video taken by a bystander's cellphone and posted on Facebook following the incident.

It is unclear why the officers decided to arrest the 26-year-old. In the complaint against Gorostiza, the officers claim he was trying to start a riot and was yelling obscenities — but that is unclear in the body camera footage released Wednesday.

Several officers tackle Gorostiza, with at least one throwing punches at him while others appear to be kicking him. At least one officer fires the chemical substance toward bystanders, telling them to back up.

"You don't need to kick him — you can just cuff him," the woman says as the officers arrest Gorostiza.

Records show a total of 11 officers responded to First Street, including one sergeant, Albany police confirmed - who would be responsible for giving orders and instructions on the scene.

"There was a sergeant, a supervisor, on the scene basically witnessing this and there was no, at least, apparent attempt to quell what was going on," said Feit, Gorostiza's attorney.