Excessive force? US police officers caught on camera repeatedly beating their suspect

Confronting video has captured the moment two American police officers repeatedly beat a suspect with their batons.

The beating was the conclusion of a 38-minute car chase through the streets of San Francisco, according to local reports.

In the video, alleged car thief, Stanislav Petrov, can be seen running a few metres ahead of a pursuing officer.

Petrov appears to slow and offer his surrender when he is tackled to the ground in the middle of an alley.

The officer then begins to punch Petrov in the head while he lays flat.

A second deputy arrives and the two of them repeatedly beat the 29-year-old with their batons.

A spokesperson for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said the deputies believed the suspect to be armed and possibly on drugs. A gun was later recovered.

An investigation has been launched into the actions of the unnamed officers - In the meantime, they were placed on paid leave.