“Disturbing” Video Shows Horse Thief Being Pummeled by Cops

Authorities in Apple Valley pursued a man on a stolen horse Thursday afternoon. Video captured by NBC LA shows the man being beaten repeatedly by deputies after being caught.

NBC reports that the unidentified man fled from police in connection with a search warrant. He then stole a horse and led authorities on the chase.

A stun gun was used to knock the man from the horse and that is when the brutal beatdown began:

The group surrounding the man grew up to 13 sheriff’s deputies as several appeared to kick, hit, and punch him dozens of times over a two-minute period. In the two minutes after the man was stunned with a Taser, it appeared deputies kicked him 17 times and punched him 37 times. It appeared deputies used batons four times. Thirteen blows appeared to be to the head. The allegedly stolen horse stood idly nearby.

“The video surrounding this arrest is disturbing and I have ordered an internal investigation be conducted immediately,” San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said in a statement.