Aerin Robinson says a routine encounter with Burbank police last October turned into a “vicious” beatdown that left him bloodied on a sidewalk, gasping that he could not breathe as officers held him down. He told reporters that only when he invoked the name of George Floyd did the officers finally ease up. Now, with the body‑worn camera footage out in the world, Robinson says the arrest has left him with PTSD and pushed him to file a legal claim against the city.
Bodycam Footage Captures Chaotic Takedown
A graphic body‑worn camera clip shows Robinson’s face smeared with blood while officers struggle to restrain him, at one point deploying a Taser as they try to get control, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles. The video picks up with Robinson already down on the sidewalk, and it continues to roll as officers keep striking and pinning him, the outlet reports. That hard‑to‑watch footage has ricocheted across social media and set the stage for Robinson and his attorney to publicly relive the encounter.
Robinson’s Story And His Family’s View
At a June news conference, Robinson said the whole thing started when officers responded to a report that he was obstructing traffic near Buena Vista and Olive Avenue on Oct. 22, 2025. From there, he said, the situation spiraled, with him pressed into the pavement and repeatedly shouting, “I can’t breathe,” as officers held him down. “I didn’t want to die,” he told reporters, adding that when he mentioned George Floyd, officers seemed to ease up, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Flanked by his daughters, Robinson said the arrest has left him traumatized and that he has now filed a civil claim over what happened.
What Police And Prosecutors Say
The Burbank Police Department told local media that every use of force is reviewed under department policy and applicable law, and that Robinson’s arrest was sent to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for an independent look, Fox 11 Los Angeles reports. Prosecutors initially filed a slate of charges tied to the October stop, including one felony count of resisting an executive officer, one misdemeanor count of battery on a peace officer, and one misdemeanor count of resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer. The DA’s office confirms a judge later tossed the criminal case after a preliminary hearing, according to the same reporting. The department, citing standard practice, said it would not comment on pending personnel matters.
Previous Lawsuit Adds Legal Backdrop
This is not Robinson’s first legal clash with the city. Court records show he filed a federal civil‑rights lawsuit in March 2023, listing the City of Burbank and multiple officers as defendants, according to docket information reviewed at Justia. That earlier suit offers some legal context for his new claim. What happens from here will hinge on discovery and what each side can actually prove in court, with the fresh bodycam video now set to become a central piece of evidence.
High‑Profile Claim Sets Up Next Battle
Robinson’s latest civil claim now moves into the early stages of what could be a long legal fight over the officers’ conduct and the department’s response. The Burbank Police Department says it remains committed to transparency and to its internal review processes, ABC7 Los Angeles reports. His attorney notes that all criminal charges were dismissed and says they plan to press hard for accountability, while city officials have largely stuck to boilerplate statements and declined to go further.
Neighbors and civil‑rights advocates have already been pushing for clearer rules on use of force and on when departments release bodycam footage. This case, with its disturbing video and dropped charges, is almost certain to reignite that debate in Burbank.
