Mesa SWAT Under Fire For Shooting Man With History Of Violence With Beanbag Rounds In Front Of His Kids

MESA, AZ — Mesa SWAT is facing scrutiny after a video posted on Facebook shows them shooting multiple bean bag rounds at a man at an apartment complex in Mesa Thursday.

In a video shared on Facebook by a bystander, officers shot numerous rounds of bean bags at Lorenzo Jones while five children were nearby.

According to court documents, police say Jones was in a verbal argument with his girlfriend and her sister on July 6.

Jones allegedly punched his girlfriend's sister in her face at least three times, causing her to fall. Her children then attempted to stop him from hitting their mother, and Jones reportedly punched and shoved them and left the apartment.

When the victims got back to their apartment, they called police. When officers arrived, they say Jones was not compliant and ran from officers.

Jones also reportedly ran at an officer full speed and jumped and punched the officer in the face causing him to fall.

He then resisted arrest and had to be tased, officials say. Officers also say they found marijuana in Jones' pocket at the time of the incident.

Sunday July 12, Jones was released from jail on a $5,000 bond. On Monday, Jones did not show up for his status conference and a judge issued a bench warrant.

When Mesa SWAT went to serve the warrant on July 16, Jones, a woman and five children came out.

A neighbor captures video of the confrontation in the walkway outside Jones’ apartment. Jones tries to argue he came from court earlier in the day and could not have a warrant for failing to appear. After several commands, Jones complies with the officers. He puts his hands up prior to an officer shooting a less-lethal bean bag round.

The first bean bag shot happened while a woman was holding several kids directly behind Jones.

Jones then fell to the ground, appearing to be in pain as the mom got the children out of harm's way.

“This is not right, said Tenisha Gaston, Jones’ fiancee. “What's going on in the world, and now I am dealing with this.“

Jones’ fiancee said the officer fired the bean back round while she and her children were just feet away.

“He is a good man,” Gaston said “My kids were scared.”