A police officer who left a man covered in blood after slamming a man to the ground during his arrest has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
A police officer’s conduct is reviewed after an ‘old man’ was caught on camera booting his back while lying on the ground in Stevenage Town Centre, Hertfordshire.
A video of the arrest has since circulated online and the city lawmaker said he was “shocked and deeply disturbed” by the incident on October 19.
But today, Hertfordshire Police said its officer’s conduct was ‘appropriate in the circumstances’ after a review by its Department of Professional Standards.
A police officer who left a man covered in blood after slamming a man to the ground during his arrest has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Police officer’s conduct reviewed after being caught on camera booting an ‘old man’ on the ground in Stevenage town centre, Hertfordshire
This came after social media users raised concerns over the level of force used by the male officer, who molested him before kicking him to the ground.
Steven McPartland, Conservative MP for Stevenage, said on Twitter yesterday: ‘I was shocked and deeply disturbed by what I saw and contacted Chief Constable immediately on Thursday.
‘They confirmed that it is with the Department of Occupational Standards for review.’
Arrest footage filmed by Andy Symonds, 36, of Welwyn Garden City, showed the man, aged 60, had a bloodied face after his head hit the cement as the officer kicked him in the back.
It begins with two male officers and a female officer trying to stop the man on the ground before landing and one of the male officers pulling his taser at the man.
The man stands on his feet and stretches out his arms and steps towards the officer and immediately knocks him to the ground.
The officer says: ‘Okay, you’ve been a good friend.’
A video of the arrest has since circulated online and the city lawmaker said he was “shocked and deeply disturbed” by the incident on October 19.
Footage shows the moment the man was stabbed twice before an officer stampeded his head before lying on the ground
When the man tries to get up the officer shouts ‘Stay down’ and another Taser shot can be heard.
As another male officer arrives at the scene, the man lies away from the officer who shot the Taser, who then shouts ‘Put your hands behind your back’.
The man’s back is to the male officer holding the Taser, who is then seen stomping on his upper back, sending his face into the concrete ground.
The three officers then attempt to handcuff the man as the camera moves to show the man’s bloodied face with drops of blood on the concrete.
Mr Symonds, a car transporter, called the reaction ‘disgusting’. He said: ‘He was clearly not a strong old man. There was no active violence on his part.
As another male officer arrives at the scene, the man lies away from the cop who shot the Taser, who then shouts ‘Put your hands behind your back’
‘He got up off the floor and when Tasar was out he raised his hands and the officer shot him.
‘He was in no danger of violence when he was on the floor with his back to the officer.
‘The officer kicked him so hard that his head hit the floor and his face was covered in blood.
‘As soon as the police officer kicked him, they called an ambulance because he realized what he had done.’
As the clip ended, a viewer said, “The kick they just kicked him has got a big cut on his head”.
A female officer asked if anyone had a first aid kit before another male officer asked his colleagues to call an ambulance.
The man was treated in hospital for ‘minor injuries’ and was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage to a police officer.
Hertfordshire Police said the video of the arrest “shows only part of what happened”.
A force spokesman said: ‘Prior to the arrest of the man, several attempts were made to communicate and pacify him without resorting to force. These were ineffective and the man continued to behave aggressively.
Footage, filmed by Andy Symonds, shows the first two male officers and a female officer trying to stop her on the ground before they can disembark and one of the male officers pulls her Taser at the man.
The man was arrested because he was considered at risk because of his behavior and officers present were working to protect themselves and members of the public.
‘The matter has been referred to the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Professional Standards Department, and CCTV footage of the entire incident has been reviewed.
‘The officer’s actions were deemed appropriate in the circumstances.’
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