Police investigation clears officers in beating of Arizona man

An investigation into the conduct of five Mesa, Ariz., police officers found that their actions were justified when they beat a man in an apartment complex earlier this year, CNN reported Tuesday. 

The investigation, completed by the Scottsdale Police Department, determined that no criminal charges were warranted and that the use of force was justified under state law, CNN reported. 

{mosads}The Mesa Police Department asked the Scottsdale department to conduct an independent review of the incident, which took place on May 23.

Five officers can be seen on surveillance video punching and kneeing Robert Johnson, 33, in the hallway of an apartment building. 

Johnson’s attorney told CNN that his client will pursue a civil suit, and maintains the beating was not justified.

Security footage shows Mesa police officers approaching Johnson near an elevator. The man is on his cellphone before the officers confront him physically, punching him several times in the face and torso before he is forced to the ground.

The officers involved were placed on leave following the incident.

The Mesa beating is one of a number of recent incidents where police were captured on video beating civilians. An officer in Baltimore resigned earlier this month after a video of him punching a suspect in the head went viral.