A shocking body camera video released to the public has revived the debate over police use of excessive force in Colorado, after a Denver police corporal was shown attacking a handcuffed man until he lost consciousness .
The incident occurred on April 14, 2018, in the basement of Jackson’s Hole Bar in downtown Denver. Corporal Michael Oestmann, who was off-duty and working as a security guard, had detained Kevin Watson for his involvement in a bar fight. Watson was handcuffed and seated in a chair in the basement .
The footage shows Watson taunting and insulting the officer for several minutes. At one point, Watson spits in Oestmann’s direction, hitting him in the face. That is when the situation turns violent. The officer lunges at Watson, punches him in the face, and delivers a knee strike to his chest, rendering the handcuffed and defenseless man unconscious .
“You will not spit on me again! Do you understand me?” Oestmann is heard yelling as he holds the unconscious man’s head. The officer then adds: “What was that about being a bitch? Who’s unconscious now?” .
The video also captures the moment Watson begins to cry, to which Oestmann responds: “Why are you crying now?” . Later, the officer admits losing control on the recording: “Got a little violent there,” Oestmann says .
Legal and Disciplinary Consequences
The case sparked immediate public outcry. Organizations like Cop Watch, a citizen oversight group, pointed out that such incidents erode trust in law enforcement. “We don’t want our children to be spitting on officers, but we expect our children to not be brutalized by anyone,” said Miguel Lopez, a member of the organization .
Despite the severity of the images, the consequences for Officer Oestmann were limited. He reached a plea deal with prosecutors that allowed him to plead guilty to a lesser misdemeanor menacing charge, with no jail time. As part of the agreement, he was ordered to attend anger management classes and complete one year of probation. If he complies with these conditions, the case will be wiped from his record .
Regarding his employment, Oestmann was reassigned to administrative duties at the Denver Police Department while an internal investigation was conducted . His record with the department showed 10 commendations but also 18 citizen and internal complaints, including several for inappropriate use of force that were dismissed . Oestmann later resigned from the force in July 2019 while the internal investigation was still ongoing .
Public Reactions and Debate
Civil rights attorney Richard Barnwell called the incident “clearly excessive force,” arguing that “the guy was handcuffed and not a threat to the officer” . Denver residents expressed concern that an officer who loses control in such a manner could face similar situations in the future.
The Oestmann case remains an emblematic example of the delicate balance between police authority and the protection of civil rights, and the limited consequences officers sometimes face when accused of using excessive force in Colorado .
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