NYC Officer Suspended After Video of Him Violently Arresting A Man For Not Social Distancing Goes Viral

An NYC police officer has been stripped of his gun and badge after a video went viral showing him violenting arresting a black man for not social distancing.

Officer Francis X. Garcia was seen in the video in plain clothes, pointing a taser at a man before punching and slapping him to the ground. That man was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer.

Police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, said that the officer was placed on modified duty while an investigation was opened into his actions.

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Shea said that the altercation began when the officer was trying to enforce social distancing guidelines, though Garcia was also seen in the video without a protective mask.

Commissioner Shea said after seeing the video, “I think we gotta be better.”

Along with the man, two others were arrested during the altercation, including a 31-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman. They were both charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of disorderly conduct, according to a press release. The 31-year-old man was also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said of the video, “What I saw was absolutely unacceptable, and obviously discipline was swift by the NYPD.”