Internal affairs officers are investigating a caught-on-camera scuffle between cops and a man who allegedly attacked them during an arrest earlier this year.
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The 27-second clip posted on Instagram by hocus45th on Friday accompanied by the caption “F*** THE POLICE” is said to have originally been filmed on May 4 of this year. “If he stops fighting, I won’t hit him”, the cop repeatedly pounds Simmons on the top of his head.
The fight between the officers from the Bronx Warrants Squad and the suspect, who was identified as Darnell Simmons, 27, broke out in a McDonald’s in the Bronx, police have confirmed.
The cop gets one hand cuffed and, as Simmons’ face comes into view, he is once again punched multiple times before being kneed in the side of the head. One of the detectives required stitches. Simmons allegedly escaped before being handcuffed, then bit and kicked the arresting detective.
The Instagram footage posted Friday picks up sometime after police were finally able bring Simmons to the floor, which was covered in spatters of blood. As detectives approached the man inside 1820 Eastchester Road in the Bronx to take him into custody, he assaulted the officers breaking the nose of one of the detectives.
Another cop, identified by sources as Officer Billy Acosta, is seen holding Simmons down. At one point, that officer is seen cocking his fist behind his back before slugging the man in the face as onlookers yell out for officer not to hit the man.
After the struggle and when Mr. Simmons was placed into custody, he was transported to Jacobi Medical Center with minor injuries.
Police said the incident was reviewed by the Civilian Complaint Review Board back in May, but they found no wrongdoing.
NYPD said the two cops suffered significant injuries as a result of the struggle with Wright needing plastic surgery to fix a broken nose and staples to close deep cuts to his head, and Acosta suffering two herniated discs.
Following the release of the video, the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau is conducting a further review of the incident.
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The NYPD did not immediately return a call for comment. He was charged with several crimes including assault on a police officer and burglary and has pleaded “not guilty”.
