OCEANSIDE, Calif. - A violent encounter between an Oceanside police officer and a 30-year-old man was caught on camera and is raising questions.

Hundreds attended the annual Amnesty International Rally in Oceanside Sunday night. The rally was held as part of the movement against the death penalty.

Several students from Rancho Buena Vista High School, including 17-year-old Anthony Carrasco, attended the event for extra credit.

Carrasco told 10News when a man Oceanside police later identified as Kevin Corey showed up to the rally, they went from promoting peace to stirring up violence. Carrasco, who captured the entire incident on camera, said attendees flagged down police to help calm Corey down.

"The guy seemed to be yelling, making noise, being disruptive," Carrasco said.

He told 10News Corey called the Oceanside officer the N word, made racist comments at both men and even egged them on. He said Corey started kicking one of the officers.

"He was yelling and making threats to both of them saying, 'Punch me, I dare you … do it, do it'," Carrasco explained.

In the video, an officer is seen tripping Corey, who quickly dropped to the ground. People erupted with cheers, but the tone quickly changed when the officer appeared to strike Corey.

According to Oceanside police, proper procedure calls first for a verbal attempt to get someone to cooperate. The next step is to make the subject cooperate with reasonable force.

An investigation is being conducted, but that is standard anytime force is used. After initial reviews, police have not confirmed whether or not the officer hit Corey, but they do believe the officer used authorized techniques.

Corey was booked into the Vista Detention Center for resisting a peace officer using threats and/or violence.

10News learned Corey has an extensive criminal record in his home state of Texas. It includes forgery convictions, theft, several drug charges and a 2003 count of resisting arrest.

10News contacted a family member in Texas who said, "Kevin is his own person." Corey's brother told 10News he moved to the San Diego area a year ago and has been living with a friend.

Although many witnesses described him as a transient who may have mental issues, both Corey's brother and a merchant in Oceanside who is familiar with him say the real problem appears to be drugs and alcohol.

Corey will be arraigned on a charge of resisting an officer at the Vista courthouse on Tuesday.