Details emerge on LAPD officer kneeling on Jaxson Hayes's neck

The LA Police Commission has ruled that an officer used excessive force on Pelicans big man Jaxson Hayes during his arrest.

There has been a key development in the case of New Orleans Pelicans big man Jaxson Hayes and his arrest last July over domestic violence charges. According to reports, it has now been determined that one of the police officers that arrested Hayes used excessive force by putting his knee on the 22-year-old's neck.

In a report by Libor Jany of the Los Angeles Times, it is revealed that the Los Angeles Police Commission ruled on Tuesday that LAPD Sgt. Darren Holt violated department policy by kneeling on Hayes' neck.

Hayes shouted, “I can’t breathe,” and another officer used a Taser on him twice, hitting him once in the chest, LAPD Chief Michel Moore wrote in a report released after the Police Commission’s weekly meeting Tuesday. Commissioners agreed with the chief’s findings that the knee-on-the-neck maneuver went against department protocols but that the use of the Taser was justified.

In reaching his conclusion, Moore cited a use-of-force review board investigation, which found that Holst twice put his knee on the basketball player’s neck, first for four seconds, and then for 11 seconds. Moore wrote that the sergeant’s tactic “resulted in unintentional but direct pressure to Hayes’ trachea or windpipe” — though not with enough force to render Hayes unconscious.

No further details on the ruling were provided and it is currently unclear if Sgt. Holt will be facing administrative charges for his actions.

Police reported to the scene on July 28 following a 911 call that came from the cousin of Hayes' girlfriend. As the officers were doing their investigation, Jaxson Hayes refused to remain outside the house. Things escalated quickly and the Pelicans big man ended up pushing an officer towards the wall. It was at that point when the responding officers decided to use force to restrain and later arrest Hayes.

Hayes later faced multiple charges, including abusing a spouse or co-habitant, resisting arrest, and battery against an LAPD officer. He pleaded no contest to the said charges and was later sentenced to three years probation and 450 hours of community service.