Police officer filmed putting man into ‘chokehold’ during arrest
The officer involved has been 'removed from frontline duties' while an investigation is being carried out.
A disturbing video has emerged of a police officer appearing to put a man into a chokehold.
The footage, which was filmed in Halifax on Sunday, has caused West Yorkshire Police to remove the officer involved from frontline duties amid an investigation.
The video, which was shared on social media, begins with a man being restrained by an officer who appears to push him against a car. The officer then pulls the man backwards onto the floor, where it appears the cop has him in a chokehold.
They struggle for a moment in the road as the man waves his arms. The officer then appears to shout: ‘Chill out or I’ll choke you out.’
A second officer arrives and kneels on the man while trying to pull his arm behind his back.
The man appears to resist, before one officer shouts ‘put it over now’. The first officer then pushes the man’s face into the ground.
Both officers then kneel on the man and keep his arms behind his back before the video cuts out.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed it has voluntarily referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) over the incident.
It added that the man was arrested and later released under investigation.
Assistant Chief Constable Osman Khan said: ‘We are aware of a video circulating showing the arrest of a man at Spring Hall Gardens, Halifax on Sunday 16 August in relation to assault offences.
‘We immediately reviewed the footage and looked into it as a matter of urgency to establish the full circumstances.
‘We have reviewed the actions of the officers involved and a referral has been made to the Force’s Professional Standards Directorate.
‘Our investigation remains ongoing and we have made a voluntarily referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC). The officer involved has been removed from frontline operational duties.’
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