Violent arrest by undercover Fontana police officers caught on video

FONTANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Eyewitness News has obtained disturbing video of a man being arrested and brutally beaten by undercover Fontana police officers.

The violent arrest took place at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said the officers were conducting surveillance on a stolen vehicle.

Video shows the suspect, identified as James Colangelo, in a car, racing into an apartment complex in the 9100 block of Pepper and followed by several officers.

Colangelo then allegedly swung a 2-foot-long 2x4 out the window when officers approached, police said.

"When they took him out of the car, they were beating the crap out of him. He was screaming. I mean crying for his mom," said a resident who did not want to be identified.

"He resisted until they opened the door. After that, he was just screaming, 'I give up! I give up!' They were just socking him and kicking him," she added.

When Colangelo fell to the ground, he tried to pull out a 6-inch knife from his waistband and "additional force was used to make the arrest," police said.

"Finally when they stopped, he was passed out. Blood, a big ol' lump on his head. It was crazy," a resident said.

The case remained under investigation.

"Any use of force at this level has a multi-step, multi-rank and multi-division review process," said Martha Guzman-Hurtado, a spokeswoman for Fontana police.

Colangelo was arrested and faces a long list of charges.