SANTA CRUZ — A 35-year-old homeless man was injured on Pacific Avenue early Monday morning while he was being arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public.

Richard Hardy hit his head on the sidewalk while a man filmed the arrest with a video camera, police said. Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Rick Martinez said Tuesday that police have not completed a use-of-force investigation, which is standard when suspects are injured and officers are involved.

About 1 a.m., officer Nathan Vasquez spotted Hardy and Allen Schlumbrecht, 38, on a bench on Pacific Avenue. Schlumbrecht held a quarter-full bottle of vodka and Hardy was slumped over him, Martinez said.

Police said both men appeared intoxicated. Vasquez talked to them and determined that Schlumbrecht needed medical attention and Hardy would be arrested.

Hardy was handcuffed. When Vasquez tried to put him in the car, Hardy was taken to the ground and injured his head, the video shows. It was not clear if Hardy hastened his fall by kicking at the car door, Martinez said.

Hardy and Schlumbrecht were transported to a hospital.

Martinez said more details on the arrest were not available because the report was not complete. Vasquez remains on duty and was interviewed by his supervisor as part of a routine investigation, Martinez said.

Police recommended charges to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney”s Office for public drunkenness for Schlumbrecht and public drunkenness and resisting arrest for Hardy.

The police investigation, based on interviews with witnesses, police and the video, is expected to determine whether the use of force was reasonable, not excessive and not in violation of the law, authorities said.

Santa Cruz police handled at least seven resisting-arrest investigations from February to April 23.

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