Brutal Video of Police Clubbing Suspected DUI Motorist

A man charged with drunk driving was brutally clubbed by Chico, CA cops ... and some of it was caught on video.

Sean Reardon claims he was driving on February 18th at around 9:40 PM when he was pulled over for a broken tail light and expired tags. Reardon, who has filed a claim against the city, claims he was tackled to the pavement without provocation on his part and then struck "multiple times with extreme violence, with a baton, club or stick without provocation."

Reardon, who is white, says in the claim he was "hog-tied," thrown into a van and taken to the hospital. He says he suffered acute respiratory failure when he arrived and was put on a ventilator. He was in ICU for 4 days. He says he also suffered multiple broken bones, including ribs, nose and sternum.

Speaking on behalf of police, the Butte County Chief Deputy D.A. tells us ... Reardon had a warrant for failing to appear on a gun charge -- and attempted to flee when he was pulled over. He says when officers caught up to him, Reardon refused to show his hands and kept them at his waist band. A police incident log says, "Blue vehicle westbound. The subject foot bailed from vehicle. Resisting."

The chief deputy D.A. says the officers used force to get Reardon to cooperate. He adds Reardon's BAC was .14 -- almost twice the legal limit -- and also had methamphetamine and cocaine in his blood.

Reardon, who is repped by Ashley Amerio, was charged with evading a peace officer, DUI, DUI with alcohol or drugs within 10 years of a prior, and resisting an executive officer -- all felonies.