Police Cleared In Delco Arrest Caught On Video

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — Police in Haverford Township were captured on video using force while arresting a man on May 3, which led to an investigation by county detectives. On Tuesday, Haverford Police said county authorities cleared the involved officers of any criminal conduct.

"The use of force in this interaction does not exceed the authority of police officers that has been statutorily provided by Pennsylvania Crime Code and court decision," Deputy District Attorney Douglas Rhoads said a letter to Haverford Police.

The scene unfolded at about 1:21 p.m. on May 3 in the parking lot of the Kohl’s Department Store located at 250 West Chester Pike.

A citizen's video showed part of the incident in which Christopher Ricciuti, 30 of Broomall, was arrested charged with resisting arrest, public drunkenness, disarming a law enforcement officer, and engaging in fighting.

The video is about a minute and half, but police said entire incident lasted about 30 minutes and was captured on the body cameras.

Watch the citizen's video below:

According to Haverford Police, officers were called to the area for a person down.

On scene, police said the officer found Ricciuti laying in a parking spot in the parking lot.

After trying to wake Ricciuti up for about 20 to 30 seconds, he opened his eyes but was unresponsive and incoherent.

Medics were requested to respond to the scene to make sure Ricciuti was not suffering a medical episode and did not feel that he was suffering from any medical condition.

Ricciuti refused any medical treatment and officers continued to speak with Ricciuti.

They said Ricciuti was under the influence of an illicit drug and requested he to family to come pick him up, which he refused to do.

That's when police took him into custody for public intoxication.

Police tried to handcuff Ricciuti and were only able to get one cuff on.

Police said he started resist the officers and kept asking repeatedly “Are you cops?"

During the struggle, the officers continually told him to stop resisting and at one point went to the ground with him.

While they were on the ground Ricciuti was able to get up and ran away with the handcuffs still on one wrist.

Police chased him, telling him to stop, and tried to use a Taser on him.

After a short foot chase, one of the officers was able to catch him and tackle him to the ground in the driveway of the Kohl’s parking lot leading out to Township Line Road, police said.

The officers continued to struggle with Ricciuti giving him orders to turn onto his stomach and he refused to comply repeatedly yelling, "Call the cops."

The officers then attempted to use the Taser for a third time and Ricciuti grabbed the Taser attempting to take it away from the officer, police said.

The officers again attempted to place him in handcuffs, but he continued to struggle with the officers and did deploy their batons.

Ricciuti grabbed the end of one of the officers the batons, which he and the officer struggled for control of, police said.

As they were struggling, the other officer hit Ricciuti with his hands, feet and baton while the other officer continued to struggle with Ricciuti over the baton, police said.

A third officer arrived, pulled out his Taser and told Ricciuti to let go of the baton, according to police.

Ricciuti let go, rolled over, and he was taken into custody without further incident, police said.

He was released Friday after posting 10 percent of $10,000 bail, court records show.