2 Alameda County deputies fired over Mission District beating

Alameda County sheriff's deputy Luis Santamaria arrives at the Hall of Justice for a hearing on Thursday, May 26, 2016, in San Francisco. He faces felony charges stemming from a video-recorded beating of 29-year-old Stanislav Petrov last November. less Alameda County sheriff's deputy Luis Santamaria arrives at the Hall of Justice for a hearing on Thursday, May 26, 2016, in San Francisco. He faces felony charges stemming from a video-recorded beating of ... more Photo: Noah Berger / Special To The Chronicle 2016 Photo: Noah Berger / Special To The Chronicle 2016 Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close 2 Alameda County deputies fired over Mission District beating 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Two Alameda County sheriff’s deputies who were captured on video aggressively beating a man with batons in San Francisco’s Mission District were fired Friday, officials said.

Deputies Paul Wieber and Luis Santamaria were no longer with the Alameda County sheriff’s office as of 5 p.m., said Sgt. Ray Kelly, a spokesman for the sheriff.

Though Kelly could not provide details of the circumstances surrounding their departure, Michael Rains, an attorney for Santamaria, said the deputies had been fired for their role in the Nov. 12, 2015, beating.

Wieber and Santamaria tackled Stanislav Petrov, 30, at the corner of Clinton Park and Stevenson Street after Petrov led the deputies on a 38-minute chase from Castro Valley and rammed two patrol cruisers in a rental car he hadn’t returned on time.

Surveillance video released by San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi shows Wieber and Santamaria knocking Petrov down and punching him and clubbing him with their batons, even after he appeared to surrender with his hands on his head.

According to Adachi, an enhanced version of the video also showed former Deputy Shawn Osborne with a gold chain that had been taken from Petrov as he lay bleeding on the ground. A homeless couple who witnessed the beating later came forward to say Osborne gave them the chain and some money as “hush goodies.”

The San Francisco district attorney’s office charged Wieber and Santamaria in May with assault with a deadly weapon, assault under the color of authority and battery, charges to which they pleaded not guilty. The criminal investigation is ongoing into the allegations against Osborne, who was fired in July.

Petrov suffered lacerations to his head and broken bones in his hands and arms. His attorneys said he also endured mental anguish and fear. He filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the deputies in August.

Wieber and Santamaria had been on paid leave before they were fired. Rains, Santamaria’s attorney, said he argued “strenuously” against the termination, but to no avail.

“I don’t think it was fair at all, but the sheriff’s in a difficult position and I understand that,” Rains said. “Deputy Santamaria is charged with three serious felonies in this case, and we’re looking at a trial that will take place in about a year. The sheriff’s options are limited at this point. He’s almost relegated to keeping him on paid leave, and I’m sure the sheriff just didn’t want to do that.”

Wieber had been with the sheriff’s office for three years and Santamaria for 15 years. Rains pointed out that no matter what the video shows, the presumption of innocence applies to the deputies as well.

“This was a use of force that was admittedly very strong, but we’re dealing with a guy who had assaulted other law enforcement officers in the East Bay and who was believed to be armed,” Rains said. “I think use of force under the law is appropriate, and we’re second-guessing the instantaneous decision-making of a deputy who had no time to reflect on the limited options available to him.”

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo