2 Riverside officers charged after smashing skateboard in viral video

Two Riverside police officers are now facing charges after a video went viral in January, showing them damaging a person’s property while they were not home.

Riverside Police Department Chief Larry Gonzalez announced Friday that the County District Attorney decided to file charges against the officers for misdemeanor vandalism.

“Last month, a video surfaced showing one of my officers damaging a skateboard in what appeared to be a deliberate act,” Gonzalez said in a message to the community. “I understand the concerns this has raised and appreciate our community’s patience as we have been conducting both a criminal and internal investigation.”

In the somewhat bizarre footage posted to YouTube, which has racked up over 556,000 views, about a half dozen officers are seen walking into what appeared to be a driveway or patio area of a residence.

In the video, a narrator said the home belonged to the girlfriend of the man that police were looking to speak to, though allegedly, no one was home at the time the officers arrived.

After knocking on the door only to hear a dog barking, several of the officers lingered in the driveway area.

While standing around the property, one officer grabbed a skateboard that was leaning nearby and got on it. The officer appeared to be testing it out when someone was heard saying, “Do an ollie.”

The officer made several unsuccessful attempts as the others continued standing around.

Eventually, all but two officers left the area, with the camera capturing one of the remaining officers picking up a hammer as both walked over to the skateboard.

The officer with the hammer stomped on the top of the skateboard before it broke in half and walked away, while the other appeared to take a photo of the broken board.

The two officers’ names were not immediately provided by the police department, but Chief Gonzalez said one of the officers now has six years of service, and the other has five.

“Let me be clear: This behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the standards of the Riverside Police Department,” said Gonzalez. “I expect every officer to uphold the integrity and professionalism that our community deserves.” 

The chief said that the department’s internal investigation remains ongoing and that once it’s complete, he will “take an appropriate course of action.”

“Accountability is essential, and I will continue to ensure my officers meet the standards expected by our community,” concluded Gonzalez.

Josh DuBose contributed to this article.

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