Mesa Police Department
The FBI has confirmed it will investigate the use of force by police in the beating of an unarmed black man in Mesa, Arizona—days after local police determined the use of force by officers was justified and recommended no criminal charges. Video footage shows Robert Johnson, 35, being kneed and punched in the head several times by five officers. The incident happened on May 23, but results of a Scottsdale Police Department investigation released Monday said “no criminal charges are warranted against the involved officers as the use of force was legally authorized and justified under Arizona state law.” Charges against Johnson were dismissed by a judge at the request of prosecutors. Johnson’s attorney, Benjamin Taylor, said in a statement Wednesday: “We hope that the FBI will do a fair investigation and help clean up the Mesa Police Department’s culture of hurting citizens and give justice to Mr. Robert Johnson.”