Police filmed pinning down man ‘having seizure’, sparking brutality claims

Watchdog says it is questioning Met Police after footage widely shared

An investigation has been launched after police officers were filmed forcefully restraining a man in east London, who appeared to suffer a seizure during the arrest.

Footage of officers striking a prone man and leaning on his throat during an arrest in Tower Hamlets was shared widely on social media.

The incident, at the corner of Oban Street and Abbott Road, sparked claims of “police brutality” after one officer was seen to punch the man in the side and hit him with a pair of handcuffs.

It was further claimed that the man suffered a seizure during the stop, but this could not be immediately verified.

A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman told The Independent: “We were called at 5:38pm yesterday to reports of a person unwell on Abbott Road, Tower Hamlets.

“We sent an ambulance to the scene which arrived in under six minutes. We treated a man and took him to hospital.”

Later in the footage the man, wearing a blue coat, is seen to be limp as officers roll him onto his back. A female officer steps in to move back a gathered crowd while a man examines the detainee.

Social media users suggested the man had parked on a single yellow line, and carried a blue disabled parking badge. Police said in a statement that his car was obstructing the road.

Google Street View appears to show a “disabled only” space atop a speed hump in Oban Street, roughly where the arrest took place.

What happened before the scuffle does not appear to have been captured on video.

The corner of Oban Street and Abbott Road, where the arrest took place (Google Street View)

The Metropolitan Police said that at about 5.30pm on Tuesday its officers tried to speak to a man whose car was blocking the road, but he refused to move it or to hand over his driver’s licence.

A 38-year-old man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway, assaulting police officers and resisting arrest. He was taken to hospital before being moved to an east London police station, it said.

Two officers suffered minor injuries.

The Met added: “[We are] aware of footage circulating on social media of officers arresting a man on Abbott Road in Tower Hamlets.

“The officers concerned recorded the incident themselves via their body-worn video cameras as is normal practice.

“Police in Tower Hamlets are talking to and listening to the local community. The matter has been referred to the central east command professional standards unit.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it was investigating the footage.

In a later statement on Wednesday, Met Commander Mark McEwan said officers had given the man a five-stage warning before beginning the arrest. He admitted the man “became unwell” while they were restraining him.