Fort Worth police release bodycam following criticism for punching black man who resisted arrest

Police bodycam video was released Wednesday after some Texas officers faced public scrutiny for punching a black man who they said attacked medics and resisted arrest.

The incident prompted the Fort Worth Police Department to launch an internal investigation.

What happened?

On Saturday, police officers were called to assist on a medical call when Forrest Curry, 35, allegedly punched a paramedic who responded to the 911 call.

Curry, who appeared to be intoxicated, allegedly took off running when the cops tried to detain him.

Next Generation Action Network released a video that shows two cops punching the man while trying to cuff him.

FWPD later released a statement that said the department launched an investigation, adding " ... that the video does not depict is that it took 3 officers and 1 supervisor to effectively place the resisting subject into handcuffs, a struggle that lasted 4.5 minutes.”

The suspect can be heard cursing at the officers in the video while they are commanding him to put his hands behind his back.

Curry's lawyers have claimed that their client has a history of seizures and that officers used excessive force when they should have been helping him.

The initial 911 call began as a seizure call, police confirmed Tuesday.

What does the bodycam show?

The 14-minute bodycam video released by Fort Worth police shows several officers trying to handcuff Curry.

Officers repeatedly asked him to put his hands behind his back and to calm down, but he continued resisting their attempts to subdue him.

Warning: This video shows graphic content that may be disturbing to some viewers.

A cellphone video taken before EMTs arrived shows two men lying on some steps at an apartment complex.

Curry can be seen thrashing his arms and legs in the video.

“And he was just sitting there with mucus and saliva running down… he was just zombified,” neighbor Ryan Edwards told KTVT-TV. “He was having a seizure. He was having a seizure at the same time. I don’t know if it makes you do that. ”

The paramedics said Curry's behavior was consistent with someone who used K2, which neighbors said he had smoked.

Police haven't yet released toxicology reports.

Warning: This video contains graphic content that may be disturbing to some viewers.

What do Curry's lawyers say now?

Curry's lawyer called the video of him on the steps a "complete distraction," adding that it merely proves he needed medical attention.

"It was always a medical situation," his lawyer, Michael Campbell, said. "It only turned criminal when the police put their hand on Mr. Curry."

What else?

Police arrested and charged Curry with public intoxication, resisting arrest, and evading arrest. He has since been released on bail.

The officers involved in the case remain on duty.