BAKERSFIELD, CA - Eyewitness say they smell a cover-up in the disappearance of cell phone video that, they say, shows the beating and death of a man in Sheriff's Department custody last week.
The Sheriff was so concerned he asked the FBI to step in and see if the video was deleted or if the file even existed.
But, those questions remain.
And, an attorney says other video that was shot that night begins rolling after David Silva is already hogtied and on the ground.
A smattering of protesters carrying anti-sheriff signs and some wearing masks, drew a stepped up deputy presence in front of the Liberty Bell and Superior Courthouse on Truxtun Avenue Thursday afternoon.
"Cops are being watched. And, as being the face of our community or as a government system, they can't keep doing what they're doing," said Melissa Quair, whose family videotaped the incident.
Quair's boyfriend, Francisco Arrieta, shot video that begins moments after deputies stopped using batons on Silva. Those deputies say Silva was combative.
"It appeared to show Mr. Silva on the ground. You could hear some sounds of Mr. Silva crying out and other deputies around him. It did not appear to show any batons," said attorney John Tello.
Quair's mother, Maria Melindez, says she did capture deputies striking Silva. But, detectives who confiscated her phone through a search warrant later said the video couldn't be found.
"What we want is for him to come out with the truth," said Quair.
"Now whether she didn't take a video and is just saying that, I think we really, really, really have to find out," said Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
Sheriff's detectives had the phones for about a week before the phones were shipped to the FBI in Sacramento.
Ray Pruitt says the phones were analyzed and sent back in less than twelve hours.
The family says other eyewitnesses also pulled out their cell phones and videotaped that night, but so far no one else has come forward.
Other key evidence may come from the CHP which had two officers respond and assist that night.
"Every officer has a microphone as well as a video camera in the vehicle," said CHP spokesman Robert Rodriguez.
But, what that dash cam video shows and what the audio reveals, Rodriguez won't say.
The CHP declined to release any documents or recordings in connection with the case.
"It's something we really can't comment on, our methods of investigation on what we're conducting, but we are conducting an investigation," added Rodriguez.
The Sheriff was so concerned he asked the FBI to step in and see if the video was deleted or if the file even existed.
But, those questions remain.
And, an attorney says other video that was shot that night begins rolling after David Silva is already hogtied and on the ground.
A smattering of protesters carrying anti-sheriff signs and some wearing masks, drew a stepped up deputy presence in front of the Liberty Bell and Superior Courthouse on Truxtun Avenue Thursday afternoon.
"Cops are being watched. And, as being the face of our community or as a government system, they can't keep doing what they're doing," said Melissa Quair, whose family videotaped the incident.
Quair's boyfriend, Francisco Arrieta, shot video that begins moments after deputies stopped using batons on Silva. Those deputies say Silva was combative.
"It appeared to show Mr. Silva on the ground. You could hear some sounds of Mr. Silva crying out and other deputies around him. It did not appear to show any batons," said attorney John Tello.
Quair's mother, Maria Melindez, says she did capture deputies striking Silva. But, detectives who confiscated her phone through a search warrant later said the video couldn't be found.
"What we want is for him to come out with the truth," said Quair.
"Now whether she didn't take a video and is just saying that, I think we really, really, really have to find out," said Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
Sheriff's detectives had the phones for about a week before the phones were shipped to the FBI in Sacramento.
Ray Pruitt says the phones were analyzed and sent back in less than twelve hours.
The family says other eyewitnesses also pulled out their cell phones and videotaped that night, but so far no one else has come forward.
Other key evidence may come from the CHP which had two officers respond and assist that night.
"Every officer has a microphone as well as a video camera in the vehicle," said CHP spokesman Robert Rodriguez.
But, what that dash cam video shows and what the audio reveals, Rodriguez won't say.
The CHP declined to release any documents or recordings in connection with the case.
"It's something we really can't comment on, our methods of investigation on what we're conducting, but we are conducting an investigation," added Rodriguez.