Virginia police department refuses to investigate after cop was caught on camera repeatedly punching 'drunk skateboarder' giving him a brain bleed

A Virginia sheriff’s department has refused to investigate an incident involving an officer who repeatedly punched a man and left him with a brain bleed.

Joshua Barricks was pulled over at the Covington Farm and Fuel store on March 30, 2022 over accusations of skateboarding while drunk.

But his arrest led to him being hospitalized with a brain bleed and multiple facial and jaw fractures after he was allegedly punched 12 times by former Alleghany County Sheriff’s Deputy James Wright. 

Surveillance footage shows Barricks getting on his knees and putting his hands above his head to surrender before he was violently attacked. 

The Alleghany County Sheriff’s office has refused to investigate which means criminal charges can't be brought - so Barricks is suing Wright for $5million.

A Virginia sheriff’s department has refused to investigate an incident involving an officer who repeatedly punched a man and left him with a brain bleed

Joshua Barricks's arrest led to him being hospitalized with a brain bleed and multiple facial and jaw fractures after he was allegedly punched 12 times by former Alleghany County Sheriff’s Deputy James Wright

Video of the incident shows Barricks on the floor with former deputy Wright kneeling on his back.

The officer is seen punching the suspect 12 times as he lays on the floor with blood pouring from his face.   

He is then picked up and marched out of the store with his white t-shirt drenched in blood.

At the time of the arrest, Barricks was fleeing from Wright after he was pulled over for skateboarding in the road. 

A criminal case can only be brought if the police department investigates before the Commonwealth’s Attorney issues charges. 

Barricks' attorney Scott Austin said an investigation was not launched and a civil lawsuit was one of their remaining options.

'It would have been far better had the Commonwealth’s Attorney and the local police been involved from the beginning and investigated this and then we wouldn’t be in this situation,' he told WDBJ.

A response by Wright to the lawsuit claimed he was acting within law enforcement policy and Barricks' claims 'are barred under qualified immunity'.

Surveillance footage shows Barricks getting on his knees and putting his hands above his head to surrender before he was violently attacked

The officer is seen punching the suspect 12 times as he lays on the floor with blood pouring from his face

The Alleghany County Sheriff’s office has refused to investigate which means criminal charges can't be brought so Barricks is suing Wright for $5million

'Well, if that’s true, we need to change the police policy, because his behavior was outrageous,' attorney Austin said. 'But we don’t think it was in keeping with police policy.'

The Alleghany County Sheriff’s office said it reviewed the video but no official investigation took place. 

Wright joined the Virginia State Police as a trooper seven months after the incident.

Barricks' attorney said: 'In our opinion, this officer should not be involved in law enforcement.'

His client is currently serving a prison sentence for drug charges but wants accountability for the injuries he suffered.

'When he’s released, he’s going to go back in that community,' Austin said. 'He wants a safe community for the citizenry, and that necessarily means you have to have accountability for the police.'

His lawsuit is expected to go to trial in October. 

DailyMail.com has contacted the Alleghany County Sheriff’s office for comment.