Video surfaces in beating of homeless man in Berkeley
BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- A Berkeley Ambassador was fired after a YouTube video surfaced showing him repeatedly striking a homeless man.
The YouTube video shows a Berkeley Ambassador punching a homeless man in the back alley of CVS on Shattuck Avenue.
"The story was put to me that the ambassador in video was defending himself," said Lance Goree.
The operations manager for Block by Block which employs the ambassadors says the YouTube video tells a different story.
RAW VIDEO: Berkeley Ambassador beats homeless man
"I didn't have to call anyone, ask anyone, or anything like that. His employment with us was terminated the moment I saw the video," Goree said.
The incident happened a week ago, but it wasn't until now that the YouTube video surfaced. The video clearly shows the ambassador throwing the first punch and then again and again, while another ambassador stood nearby. That ambassador has been suspended.
Downtown Berkeley Association says its ambassadors are supposed to focus on hospitality and directing those in need to social services.
"We're not here for any law enforcement purposes, let alone engaging in a violent matter of that sort," John Caner, the CEO of the Downtown Berkeley Association, said.
Police say they did arrest the two homeless men shown in the video for assaulting the ambassadors.
"At the time, the information we had was a person armed with a pole that had a blade, like knife, attached to the end of it," Officer Jennifer Coats of the Berkeley Police Department said.
Police say they looked at the YouTube video and have passed it along to the district attorney's office for further review.
The Downtown Berkeley Association says ambassadors are always trained to keep a safe distance and avoid physical contact.
