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Met officers filmed pinning down man apparently having a seizure Met officers filmed pinning down man apparently having a seizure
(32 minutes later)
Three Metropolitan police officers have been filmed pinning a man down while he appeared to have a fit. Three Metropolitan police officers have been filmed pinning a man down while he appeared to have a seizure.
The Met said it had referred the incident, which took place in Poplar, east London, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday, to the central east command professional standards unit. But the Guardian understands the Independent Office for Police Conduct may take over the investigation.The Met said it had referred the incident, which took place in Poplar, east London, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday, to the central east command professional standards unit. But the Guardian understands the Independent Office for Police Conduct may take over the investigation.
In the video, a man of Middle Eastern or Asian appearance repeatedly shouts: “I can’t breathe,” and, “my heart” as the officers hold him down on the pavement. Crimes against humour: should the police be making jokes on Twitter?
In the video, a man of Middle Eastern or Asian appearance repeatedly shouts: “I can’t breathe” and “my heart” as the officers hold him down on the pavement.
At one point, an officer appears to drag a pair of handcuffs across the man’s head, causing it to bleed. He then begins having spasms as officers continue to restrain him, while a woman, understood to be his wife, screams: “You’re killing him.”At one point, an officer appears to drag a pair of handcuffs across the man’s head, causing it to bleed. He then begins having spasms as officers continue to restrain him, while a woman, understood to be his wife, screams: “You’re killing him.”
As other officers arrive and try to push back members of the public watching and recording the incident, the officers holding him release their grip and he is shown unconscious, lying spreadeagled on the pavement.As other officers arrive and try to push back members of the public watching and recording the incident, the officers holding him release their grip and he is shown unconscious, lying spreadeagled on the pavement.
Salman Khan, who posted the footage on Twitter, said the man who was arrested was visiting his sister’s house with his wife, two-year-old daughter and four-year-old son. Salman Khan, 19, a sports teacher from west London, was a passenger in a car passing through the area when they stopped after seeing a commotion on the ground.
He said the police became involved after telling the man he could not park on a single yellow line, and he responded by telling them he had a blue badge for disabled drivers. “My heart was beating fast, I genuinely thought he was going to die,” he said. “They held his legs and arms and stopped him from moving but he wasn’t really moving, he was just shaking from the seizure.
Khan witnessed the later part of the incident and said he had been given the footage by another witness who was already present when he arrived. “He’s having a fit, they should have let him go, tilted him to the side, in the recovery position. It’s quite clear that even his legs are shaking and people are screaming: ‘Let go.’ They treated him [medically] too late and they were to blame for the situation.”He said he was told by other bystanders that the man was epileptic.
Posting his understanding of witness accounts on Twitter, he wrote: “Police officer said: ‘Ok I’m giving you 5 points and arresting you.’ At this point the wife intervened and said: ‘Surely there is another solution please.’ Officer said: ‘No your husband’s attitude stinks we’re arresting him anyway,’ at which point the gentleman said: “What is your reason, I haven’t done anything wrong!” At which point the police officer jumped on him and the other two officers joined him and started beating him.” Video footage posted by Khan on Twitter, but filmed by someone else, begins when the man is already on the ground. It does not show the police officers strike the man, aside from when he is apparently scratched with the handcuffs. Officers who arrive tell onlookers to get back to make room for an ambulance. “I need you to stand back, he’s having a seizure,” one says.
The footage begins when the man is already on the ground. It does not show the police officers strike the man, aside from when he is apparently scratched with the handcuffs. Officers who arrive tell onlookers to get back to make room for an ambulance. “I need you to stand back, he’s having a seizure,” one says.
The Met said it was aware of the footage and the officers had also recorded the incident on body-worn cameras.The Met said it was aware of the footage and the officers had also recorded the incident on body-worn cameras.
“Officers attempted to speak with a man regarding his car, which was obstructing the highway and other motorists. The man declined to move his car and refused to provide officers with his driving licence,” a spokesperson said.“Officers attempted to speak with a man regarding his car, which was obstructing the highway and other motorists. The man declined to move his car and refused to provide officers with his driving licence,” a spokesperson said.
“A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of the highway, assaulting police and resisting arrest. He was taken to hospital for treatment as a precaution and is now in custody at an east London police station. Two officers sustained minor injuries.”“A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of the highway, assaulting police and resisting arrest. He was taken to hospital for treatment as a precaution and is now in custody at an east London police station. Two officers sustained minor injuries.”
However, in a sign of how seriously the Met is taking the incident, it produced a briefing sent to selected people in the local community, which went much further than the press statement.However, in a sign of how seriously the Met is taking the incident, it produced a briefing sent to selected people in the local community, which went much further than the press statement.
The briefing says the man was warned five times that he faced arrest, and failed to comply with 17 requests from officers to move his car or show his driving licence. It confirms officers believed he was having a fit during physical restraint. The briefing says the man was warned five times that he faced arrest, and failed to comply with 17 requests from officers to move his car or show his driving licence. It confirms officers believed he was having a seizure during physical restraint.
“While on the floor, the male’s body starts to shake and it appears as if he is having a fit. At this point, the officers appear to be holding the suspect in place but not using any force, other than the officer who is holding down the legs,” the force says.“While on the floor, the male’s body starts to shake and it appears as if he is having a fit. At this point, the officers appear to be holding the suspect in place but not using any force, other than the officer who is holding down the legs,” the force says.
The briefing says that after the man failed to comply with the requests, “the officer takes out his handcuffs and begins to arrest the male, who resists. The male lashes out his arm and appears to attempt to bite the arresting officer. The videos circulating then show what happens next.” The briefing says after the man failed to comply with the requests, “the officer takes out his handcuffs and begins to arrest the male, who resists. The male lashes out his arm and appears to attempt to bite the arresting officer. The videos circulating then show what happens next.”
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