Video Of Newark Police Officer Using Force Is ‘Troubling’: Mayor

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark police officer has been reassigned and a probe launched after a video showing officers using force to subdue a resident was posted on social media earlier this week, authorities said.

Mayor Ras Baraka issued a statement about the incident on Wednesday evening:

“The video of the incident last night, in which Newark officers used force to subdue a resident is very troubling and extremely counter to the kind of police force we demand to have in Newark. The officer has been relieved of his gun, reassigned, and the incident is under investigation by Newark Police Internal Affairs Bureau, all which are standard procedure in egregious incidents. As mayor, I will see that this situation is fully investigated. Our police force has been working hard to improve community relations and build trust to the point that our citizen complaints have decreased significantly—and we want to stay on that path.”

Newark officials didn’t reply to a request to identify the video in Baraka’s statement. However, multiple social media posts that circulated on Wednesday show a Newark police officer repeatedly punch a man in the head while trying to subdue him.

A spokesperson for the Newark police told NJ.com that an incident occurred on the 300-block of Halsey Street. Police were responding to a report of a disturbance.

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