Charges dropped against Robert Johnson, man beaten by Mesa police

Show Caption Hide Caption Man beaten by Mesa police speaks publicly for first time Robert Johnson, 35, was beaten by a group of Mesa Police officers in May. He spoke publicly about the incident for the first time Thursday.

A Mesa judge has dropped all charges against Robert Johnson, the 35-year-old Mesa man whose case received national attention after video surfaced of police officers beating him during an incident in May.

Mesa city prosecutor John Belatti on June 13 filed the motion to dismiss the charges of disorderly conduct and hindering police without prejudice, meaning the case against Johnson can be refiled in court.

The motion said the charges should be dropped "in the interest of justice." Municipal Judge Elizabeth P. Arriola granted it Thursday.

"We are pleased to hear the false and drummed up charges against my client Mr. Johnson have been dropped," said Benjamin Taylor, a lawyer for Johnson.

RELATED: Unarmed man beaten by Mesa police: 'I want Mesa to be held accountable'

Video shows Mesa police punching, later mocking Jose Luis Conde Mesa police body-cam videos from January 2018 show an officer repeatedly punching Jose Luis Conde during a drug investigation.

The motion was filed the same day The Arizona Republic reported on Mesa police body-cam videos from the January arrest of an unarmed man that show an officer repeatedly punching him and another police officer later mocking him as he lies on a hospital floor in a pool of blood.

Jose Luis Conde's criminal defense attorney provided the videos and police reports to The Arizona Republic this week. It was not immediately clear whether other records or recordings of the arrest and investigation exist. Mesa Police Department said Wednesday that it would soon make public any related material.

Jose Conde, the man who was punched and mocked by Mesa police, reads statement Jose Conde reads a statement during a press conference about the incident.

Johnson's case received national attention after video showed officers kneeing and punching him multiple times before bringing him to the ground. The case brought additional scrutiny to the Mesa Police Department, which has faced backlash for its use of force in other high-profile episodes.

Mesa police Chief Ramon Batista has since called for multiple investigations into how his officers have used force not only in Johnson's case, but all instances in the past three years.

Five officers have been put on leave as the Scottsdale Police Department investigates if the Mesa officers used excessive force with Johnson. The case will be forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, which will decide whether charges should be filed against any of them.

"Our focus now is on ensuring a fair investigation is conducted by the Scottsdale Police Department," Taylor said.

Johnson had accompanied his friend, 20-year-old Erick Reyes, to pick up belongings from the apartment of Reyes' ex girlfriend on May 23. Someone called 911, alleging that Reyes had tried to force his way into the Main Street apartment about a mile east of Country Club Drive.

Johnson was ultimately arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and hindering police. Reyes was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mesa police last week released video and audio of the encounter. It shows three officers approach Johnson, search his pockets and then ask him to sit on the floor against a wall. Reyes can be seen feet away, already seated.

Surveillance video shows Mesa police officers punching man in face In a video released by the Mesa Police Department, Mesa officers are shown apprehending a man and punching him in the face several times in May 2018.

Johnson asks why he needs to sit down and refuses, even after police repeatedly tell him to, the video shows.

Officers close in on Johnson. An officer identified in the police report as "J. Jones" knees Johnson twice in the stomach and punches him six times in the face, the video shows.

The police report details that another officer, identified as "R. Monarrez," punched Johnson in the face at least once. As Johnson was being hit, someone is heard saying, "Sit your ass down, motherf--ker."

One of the officers pulls Johnson's leg, dropping him to the floor. Someone is heard saying, "See what happens?"

Police handcuff Johnson and tie his feet together. As he lies on his stomach on the floor, Johnson tells the officers, "You didn't need to put all that force on me."

He then yells profanities at the officers, challenging them to a fight, the video shows.

Officer R. Gambee, as named in the report, said as the officers escort Johnson into the elevator, it looked as if Johnson was about to spit on him. Gambee shoved Johnson's face into the corner of the elevator door and the door frame, according to the report.

One officer then wrapped a spit mask, or what appears to be a mesh-type cloth, around Johnson's face. Three officers picked him up by his feet and arms, carried him into the elevator and then into a patrol car, the video shows.

Mesa police have faced additional scrutiny from other use-of-force instances.

In February, a family posted pictures online of an 84-year-old grandmother's bruises from when a Mesa police officer grabbed her and took her down. After the pictures went viral on Facebook, Mesa police video showed the takedown. Police had originally said the woman slipped.

After a jury acquitted former Mesa police Officer Phillip Brailsford of second-degree murder in December, a judge allowed the release of unedited footage showing Brailsford fatally shooting a man who was on his knees crying, begging for his life.

The incident happened in January 2016, but the unedited video was released almost two years later, prompting an outcry on social media.

Mesa police chief talks about video of officers punching man Mesa Police Chief Ramon Batista talks about surveillance video showing officers punching man in face.

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