WARNING! SOME OF THE IMAGES IN THIS STORY MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME VIEWERS

In response to a claim by family members stating that a man was beaten, tased and thrown off of a bridge by Rainbow City Police on Thursday night, the Rainbow City Police Department has released a statement and body cam footage of the entire incident.

“In response to the “Social Media Craze” and false allegations that Rainbow City Police Officers would mistreat any citizen (Law abiding or Suspect) I have uploaded this video to discredit the horrendous allegations that on July 13, 2017 that Rainbow City Police threw anyone from a bridge on Black Creek Parkway or in any way did anything other than carry out our duties to the extent of rendering what aid we could to a fleeing suspect. In this video, you will clearly see a man flee from police after learning that we had found out his true identity and discovered that he had Felony Warrants for Probation Revocation for Dangerous Drugs and other misdemeanor traffic violations. Prior to confronting this subject, he had stated that, “He had never obtained an Alabama Driver’s License and did not know his Social Security Number.” He gave officers a false name and then recanted the fact he had no driver’s license and gave police another person’s driver’s license that he found within the vehicle. After the other occupant of the vehicle help reveal his identity, you can clearly see him run across two lanes of traffic and leap over a concrete bridge barrier, falling approximately 19 feet to the ground. The subject next pulled his pants off and ran along the river bank, as well as he could after succumbing from injuries from his self in the fall refusing to stop or show his hands in a very dark wooded area until the officer had to result in deploying a taser to get him to cooperate. Next you will notice that not only did police NOT throw him from the bridge that the police actually rendered him aid as well as they could until medics arrived. Just because it’s on Facebook does not mean it is true. We regret that this subject had self-inflicted injuries, as it’s our intention to protect all lives and be concerned with all the community’s safety as a whole. Jonathon W. Horton, Chief of Police, Rainbow City Police Dept.”

A Facebook post claims officers beat, used a stun gun and pushed a man off a bridge around 10 p.m. before being taken to a Gadsden hospital and airlifted to UAB Hospital, but next of kin was not notified.

Rainbow City Police Chief Jonathan Horton says that officers asked the female driver and male passenger for their information and that the victim stated that he did not have a license, and then gave officers a false name. Officers reportedly learned that the victim had given them a fake name, and asked him for his real name, which the driver reportedly provided.

Police then searched the passenger’s name, and reportedly discovered that he had felony drug warrants and misdemeanor traffic warrants, and attempted to take him into custody.

As officers attempted to make the arrest, the passenger reportedly ran from officers and jumped over a bridge barrier, which is a 19-foot drop. The suspect continued to attempt to elude officers and tried to hide in the bushes.

Horton said that officers found the man while searching with flashlights, and at that point, he attempted to run again before being tased.

Police called medics to the scene, who airlifted the suspect to UAB Hospital.