BPD releases video on use of force incident after video circulated on social media

The Bakersfield Police Department is releasing video to provide details of a use of force incident that happened on May 5, after a portion of the arrest circulates on social media.

BPD said on May 5, 2023, at around 3:43 p.m., officers were called to an apartment in the 3700 block of Q Street, near Memorial Hospital regarding a report of possible domestic violence.

The caller said a man, later identified as Jason Crawford, 41, was possibly under the influence of meth and had tried to stab a person with a pen, according to police.

Officers arrived and talked to the man. Police said during the interaction with officers, multiple uses of force happened, including multiple taser deployments, physical force, and baton strikes.

Body camera video shows officers approaching the door and asking the man to put the pen down.

Police said during the struggle, the officer’s body camera became dislodged.

At one point, it is seen an officer deploys a taser. The man is shown applying a chokehold on a person.

Multiple officers then attempt to detain the man on the balcony.

The man was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Police said the man is in stable condition.

He was arrested for spousal abuse, being under the influence of methamphetamine, battery on a peace officer, and resisting an officer with violence.

The Bakersfield Police Department is conducting a Critical Incident investigation of the use of force. The involved officers are on full-duty status, according to police.