A Texas sheriff has been suspended on full pay after a shocking video emerged of him repeatedly punching an 18-year-old suspect in the head.

Lampasas County Sheriff's Deputy Logan Jones pulled Quinton Cruce over after receiving reports of an 'erratic driver' on Highway 281 at around 3.15am on May 25.

Dashcam footage showed the teen being ordered out of his car as five cops, and his two passengers, Gage Blackwell, also 18, and 17-year-old Sydney Joy, waited outside.

As soon as he walks round the car, Jones grabbed the suspect's arms from behind.

Lampasas County Sheriff's Deputy Logan Jones (pictured sitting on top of the teen in a still from the dashcam footage) has been suspended on full pay after a shocking video emerged of him repeatedly punching an 18-year-old suspect in the head

Quinton Cruce had been ordered out of his car, but was grabbed by Jones, and when he asked why there was such a need for 'aggression' he was grabbed around the neck and thrown to the ground

The deputy climbed on top of the teen and began punching him repeatedly in the face as he lay on the ground

'Do you have to be this aggressive with me?' Cruce asked, as he turned around to address the officer. 'Come on dude, look,' he began, before he was interrupted by Jones violently grabbing him round the neck and throwing him to the ground.

The deputy climbed on top of the teen and began punching him repeatedly in the face as he lay on the ground.

'Are you f**king kidding me man?' Cruce yelled. 'I'm not doing anything!'

Eventually, an officer ordered him to 'roll over' onto his back.

Cruce's mugshot reveals he suffered a black eye and bruises in the beating. He has since bonded out of jail

The 18-year-old was arrested for assault of a public servant, resisting arrest, interference with public duties and a minor consuming alcohol

Joy also filmed the violence and posted the video on Twitter with the caption: 'If this isn't police brutality idk what is. My friend was supposed to graduate today but looks like that's not happening.'

The video was shared hundreds of times online, triggering an investigation into the officer's actions.

Cruce was arrested for interference with public duties, resisting arrest, assault of a public servant and driving while intoxicated.

His mugshot reveals he suffered a black eye and bruises in the beating. He has since bonded out of jail.

A passenger, Sydney Joy, filmed the violent arrest and posted video online

One again, Jones could be seen climbing on top of Cruce, and punching him repeatedly, before arresting him

Blackwell was arrested for assault of a public servant, resisting arrest, interference with public duties and being a minor consuming alcohol, deputies said.

Sydney said officers threatened to arrest her too, for 'interfering' and claims they called her a 'dumb b***h'.

'The Lampasas County Sheriff's Office say an investigation has been launched into the actions of the officer.

They said that Deputy Jones was placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation - standard practice during allegations of excessive force.

Lampasas Police Chief Sammy Bailey said: 'As is standard, we review all use of force incidents where a Lampasas Police Department officer is present. This review was in process prior to the release of a video.'

Cruce's passenger Gage Blackwell (left and right) was arrested for assault of a public servant, resisting arrest, interference with public duties and a minor consuming alcohol