By Officer suspended over arrest video
A police officer has been suspended after a video showed a man being told “chill out or I’ll choke you out” during an arrest.
West Yorkshire Police said the matter had been referred to the police watchdog after footage emerged of the incident in Halifax.
The 45-second clip shows two male uniformed officers grappling on a pavement with a man.
One of the officers appears to say to him “chill out or I’ll choke you out” and then “chill out or you’re going to sleep”.
The officers manage to get the man on to his front and one tries to handcuff him as the other appears to be talking on his radio.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Osman Khan of West Yorkshire Police said: “We are aware of a video circulating showing the arrest of a man at Spring Hall Gardens, Halifax, on Sunday 16 August in relation to assault offences.
“We immediately reviewed the footage and looked into it as a matter of urgency to establish the full circumstances.
“We have reviewed the actions of the officers involved and a referral has been made to the Force’s Professional Standards Directorate.”
He continued: “Our investigation remains ongoing and we have made a voluntarily referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC). The officer involved has been removed from frontline operational duties.
“The man arrested was released under investigation.”
And in a further update yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) it was stated by West Yorkshire Police: “Further to this statement the officer has been suspended from the force.”
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