Social media attention has led to the temporary sidelining of a New Castle, Pennsylvania, police officer who was allegedly shown on video slamming a man's head to the ground multiple times during an arrest, WTAE-TV reported.
The video has been shared almost 50,000 times on Facebook and shows an arrest that took place Monday evening. The department says it wants to conduct a "full, fair and impartial" investigation into the use of force.
New Castle police were called to a home Monday evening to handle a domestic disturbance involving an allegedly intoxicated man who had reportedly assaulted a juvenile male.
According to the police report, the intoxicated man went for a knife that was on a counter, leading to a struggle with one of the officers on the scene.
Another officer tried to tase the man three times to no avail. The video recording picks up at the point the second officer forcefully restrains and handcuffs the suspect.
While on top of the suspect, who is laying on his stomach, the officer appears to lift up and slam down the suspect's face onto the floor multiple times.
The suspect was treated at a local hospital for head injuries and then booked into Lawrence County Jail on assault, harassment, and resisting arrest charges.
(Content warning: This video might be disturbing for some viewers):
The department released a statement:
The New Castle City Police Department takes every allegation of the use of force very seriously. The NCPD is one of the first police departments in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to convene a Use of Force Board Hearing upon any allegation of force potentially outside NCPD policies and procedures. Please allow us time to conduct a full, fair and impartial investigation.
The officer, identified in the complaint as Patrolman Ronald Williams, will remain on administrative leave for the duration of the internal investigation.
