Video: Plainfield Cops Punch, Pepper Spray Man During Arrest

PLAINFIELD, NJ — An arrest by Plainfield Police was caught on video showing officers punching a Dunellen man four times and kneeling on him Thursday. The video is currently under review by the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

It was around 10:50 a.m. when Plainfield Police went to a business in the 100 Block of Watchung Avenue on a report of a disorderly person breaking dishes inside.

A customer, later identified as Leon Brown, 49, was found to be in a dispute with an employee, police reported.

When Brown saw the police he hastily walked out of the business while they asked him to stop. Brown reportedly didn't listen to police and continued to walk away, police report.

Officers tried to stop the Brown, however he became extremely irate, police say.

After several failed attempts to stop Brown, he was told he would be placed under arrest for obstruction of the administration of the law.

Brown then allegedly became more enraged and was taken to the ground by officers. He then continued to not listen to officers when asked to place his hands behind his back and kept hiding his hands underneath his body, police report.

Police tried to take his hands out from under him to see if Brown was in possession of any weapons and couldn't. The officer then sprayed Brown twice with Oleoresin Capsicum (OC spray), police report.

Brown continued to not listen to officers' orders causing officers to hit him four times in his lower right side with a closed fist "in an attempt to stun him to get his hands away from his body," police said.

An officer then knelt on Brown and was able to arrest him.

Brown was treated by medics due to his exposure to the spray but refused further medical treatment as he did not sustain any other injuries.

Brown was charged with obstruction of the administration of the law and resisting arrest.

Accordingly, a use of force report and all officer body camera footage will be filed with the Union County Prosecutors Office for their review.

(Image and videos via Alriel Spurgeon with permission)

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