(Screengrab from YouTube video of the incident)
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating an incident caught on video of officers possibly using excessive force to subdue a suspect in Northeast D.C.
Officers responded to a “man down” call in the 5100 block of Cloud Place on Oct. 26. Arriving on scene, they found Herbert Jones, 43, reportedly behaving erratically. A video which depicts multiple police officers later piling on top of Jones went viral on social media.
Police subsequently released a longer video in which Jones appears to break an antenna off of a car and try to attack the approaching officers. Two officers order Jones to the ground and, when he resists, one officer responds with a baton to Jones’ leg. Another officer tackles Jones to the ground and began to punch him.
(Screengrab from the YouTube video of the incident)
More officers arrived on the scene and piled onto the suspect; and at one point an officer kneed the suspect, claiming that Jones bit his leg.
Three officers involved in the arrest were reportedly injured.
According to charging documents, police said Jones smelled of PCP, a drug that induces hallucinations and unusual strength.
“The officers involved had already reported the use of force as required by policy and the Use of Force Investigation is underway,” the D.C. Police Union said in a statement Oct. 27.
Metropolitan Police officers do not have tasers and rely on batons and pepper spray in non-lethal altercations. That may change; according to Police Chief Cathy Lanier, officers will be able to start carrying stun guns for additional support in arrests.
According to news reports, Jones was charged with assaulting a police officer and destruction of property.