Video That Shows Officer With Knee On Man’s Neck Sparks Fury

9

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Video posted on social media that shows a Pennsylvania police officer with his knee on a man’s neck while trying to restrain him has prompted protests and a demand from the local Black Lives Matter group to suspend the officers involved.

Join our WhatsApp group

Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


The video shot Saturday night from a passerby’s vehicle shows Allentown officers restraining a man on the ground outside the emergency room of the Sacred Heart Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital. An officer has his elbow on the man’s neck before switching to a knee to hold him down while other officers restrained his arms.

The man does not appear to be resisting during the video.

Allentown Police released a statement Sunday night saying the interaction is being investigated and additional videos are being reviewed.

The department released its use of force policy earlier this month, five weeks after a white Minneapolis police officer put his knee on George Floyd’s neck for several minutes, even after he stopped responding. Floyd’s death has sparked protests around the world calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism.

The policy prohibits neck restraints and chokeholds. It says that officers should only use the amount of force necessary to control the situation.

According to the police statement, officers were outside the hospital for an unrelated matter when they saw a man staggering in the street, vomiting and stopping in the driveway of the ER.

The officers and hospital staff interacted with the man, who began to yell and spit at them, police said. The statement said the man was “noncompliant which required officers to restrain” him. It’s unclear from the video how long the officer had his knee of the man’s neck.

The man was treated at the hospital and released.

Police have not released the name or race of any individuals seen in the video.

The video was posted to social media where people on the Black Lives Matter to Lehigh Valley Facebook page demanded answers from police. The group formed a protest late Saturday in front of the police station, and is planning another march to City Hall on Monday evening with community leaders slated as speakers.

Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell and police Chief Glenn Grantiz Jr. showed up to the protest. Both said the police need to investigate the matter further. O’Connell called the video “disturbing.”

Police said in their statement that they plan on releasing more videos later this week.


Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


Connect with VINnews

Join our WhatsApp group


9 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
5TRESIDENT
5TRESIDENT
3 years ago

How stupid is this cop?

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
3 years ago

In all likelihood the guy deserved it just like Floyd who while not deserving of death , was not innocent

G Washington
G Washington
3 years ago

“Does not appear to be resisting”?!
Hope he doesn’t have black or brown blood in him. Because if so…
BLM – Burn Loot Murder!

I was a democrat until I saw the light
I was a democrat until I saw the light
3 years ago

Picture looks more like on his head. But if you resist arrest and fight hey you get what you deserve
Any see film of Bronx cop being beaten up
With crowds cheering
Sorry blue lives natter too

Yankel
Yankel
3 years ago

VIN! Please post the truth, The officer didn’t put his knee on the perps neck only on his skull which is not the same.

Triumphinwhitehouse
Triumphinwhitehouse
3 years ago

Thugs like george floyd and eric garner

chosid
chosid
3 years ago

look at all the videos where someone was killed by police black or white 99.9% they didn’t obey commands