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by: Michaela Bourgeois, Joelle Jones

by: Michaela Bourgeois, Joelle Jones

Editor’s note: This story contains graphic images.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A man who was hospitalized following a Salem police chase on foot had fallen and hit his head after being tased by an officer, according to the Salem Police Department, as his family releases graphic images of the man in his hospital bed.

The police department said around 3 p.m. Tuesday that an officer spotted the suspect, identified on Wednesday as 29-year-old Daniel Aniceto Garcia, who ran away from officers toward Nebraska and 16th Streets, authorities said.

In Thursday’s update, SPD said Garcia fell and hit his head after he was tased by an officer and noted: “no other significant use of force occurred.”

Authorities said Garcia received medical attention before paramedics arrived and he was rushed to Salem Health for treatment. Authorities did not elaborate on Garcia’s current condition, but his family said that he is on life support.

“Take a close look, this is all because they racially profiled my son who is mentally ill and also happens to be a drug user,” said Daniel’s mother, Michelle, who said her life has been turned upside down after her son suffered an injury during the arrest.

Michelle also said that she was there and felt like the arrest was more of an attack.

“So I’m speeding up and I’m behind them. And I stop at the end and he tasered him. And as my son’s body weight kind goes limp he pushed him. My son had no reflexes to catch himself, so the first thing he did was land on his bed and I heard my son’s head crack,” she said.

Several of Garcia’s family members held a rally outside of Salem Hospital on Thursday.

“Cover it up, talk about how bad this person is, talk about how this person deserved it. Nothing you, or I, or anyone in this community has ever done warrants the level of brutality and violence that Daniel and his family witnessed the other day,” said Julianne Jackson of Black Joy Oregon.

The officer who deployed the taser was uninjured in the incident, authorities said. The officer’s name has not been released.

Authorities reportedly sought Garcia’s arrest on a felony warrant for a probation violation for domestic assault. Salem PD also said they had probable cause to arrest him on first-degree burglary charges in three cases.

However, the family says there was no warrant, and a KOIN 6 review of court records shows no open warrant for Garcia. KOIN 6 reached out to Salem police to clarify and have not heard back.

SPD said because of Garcia’s expected length of medical care, his charges are being referred to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office and SPD is releasing Garcia from police custody.

Meanwhile, Garcia’s family released to KOIN 6 News multiple images of him in his hospital room with an apparent head injury.

Editor’s note: The images below may be graphic to some viewers. Garcia’s family provided KOIN 6 News the following photos.

On Wednesday, Salem PD stated in a Wednesday press release that “although this event did not involve the use of deadly physical force, the Salem Police Department proactively requested Oregon State Police assist with the investigation due to the severity of injuries Garcia sustained.”

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