Kokomo Police Department released body cam footage from a recent arrest that occurred in front of the stage during the recent Haynes Apperson Festival. In July a video capturing the arrest of Jonatan Cantu, 25, by KPD officers during the Haynes Apperson Festival went viral. That video showed officers deploying strikes and a stun gun against Cantu as he lay on the ground but failed to show what led to the altercation between the officers and the Kokomo man who, according to court documents, was harassing event staff and attendees for "being the devil." The newly-released body cam footage, procured through an information request to the city, shed more light on the event as KPD officials defend their officers' use of force during the incident. Footage from the first officer on the scene's body cam began as the officer approached the park in his vehicle, and he made his way toward the concert area of Foster Park on foot after parking on Superior Street. When the officer arrived to Cantu's location, just in front of the stage in Foster Park as a band played during the festival, Cantu was seen in the video standing about two feet away from an individual working park security. His arm was outstretched, holding a large wooden cross, and waving it in the woman's face. In the video the officer can be heard telling Cantu, "You've got to go," and the man responded by shaking his head. He replied, "I have a freedom of speech," and began to walk away from the officer. The officer then reached out toward Cantu, and the camera cuts off presumably as his body cam was pushed against Cantu. When the events on the video became visible again, a few moments later, Cantu was on the ground on his stomach. The officer was on Cantu's back, and another EMA officer had Cantu's shoulders pinned with his knee. The officer ordered Cantu to roll over multiple times, but he refused repeatedly as the officer began deploying his stun gun into the man's back. The whole time Cantu also was refusing to release the cross, which, at this point, may be broken, and put his arms behind his back. A little under a minute after Cantu was on the ground, a second officer arrived on the scene and began to deliver what were dubbed in the probable cause affidavit as "distraction strikes" to Cantu's left side with his fist. The officers continued to order Cantu to roll over, but he's heard in the video replying "no" repeatedly. The struggle continued, with the second officer on the scene eventually transitioning to using his knee for "distraction strikes," as the first responding officer continued to use his Tazer on Cantu's back. After about another minute, the officers succeed in getting one of Cantu's arms behind his back, and one piece of the cross was removed from beneath Cantu. The officers could be heard warning each other to be careful of the broken cross, with one saying, "It's sharp there." At times Cantu also could be heard repeatedly saying, "Please help me. I've got a freedom of speech. Please God, please God, please God, help me. God please, forgive me." Shortly thereafter, the final piece of the cross was removed from beneath Cantu, and the officers cuffed his hands. Just short of four minutes after the altercation began, Cantu was led to the awaiting KPD squad cars. Just before Cantu was placed in the vehicle, he asked an officer, "I didn't hurt you, did I?" The officer replied, "No, you're all right." According to court documents, Cantu told the officers he wasn't experiencing any pain from the incident. After the release of the video, KPD Captain Tonda Cockrell gave the following statement: "On July 4, the Kokomo Police Department responded to a reported unwelcomed person who was refusing to leave Foster Park during the Haynes Apperson Festival. The individual refused to comply with the officer's orders to leave. As the KPD officer attempted to take him into custody for trespass, the subject resisted. "Our officers used a level of force consistent to the actions and level of resistance by the individual. The individual made no report of injuries at the time of the incident and declined medical treatment. No KPD officers or any other individuals were injured during this incident." As a result of the incident, Cantu faces two misdemeanors charges, criminal trespass, and resisting law enforcement.
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