Police chiefs defend officer who was filmed punching a handcuffed man in the face after drink-driving arrest - saying the suspect was FIRST to attack cops who did not use 'excessive' force
Police chiefs have defended an officer who was filmed punching a handcuffed man in the face and dragging him from a patrol car after a drink-driving arrest.
Footage shows the suspect yelling out in pain as two officers attempt to detain him with one pinning him to the ground by his neck in Yardley, Birmingham, last night.
Onlookers can be heard yelling at him to 'stop' and saying 'na man, f***ing hell' after the officer delivers the blow before a woman and two men become involved.
A 41-year-old man had been arrested for drink-driving following a hit-and-run and 'assaulted one of the officers by kicking him', said police.
West Midlands Police added it considered the force used by the officer not to be excessive after reviewing the footage, which was shared widely on social media.
In the video, a policeman can be seen holding the man by his neck before punching him in the face while wrestling him to the ground beside the patrol car in Birmingham
In the video, a policeman can be seen holding the man by his neck before punching him in the face while wrestling him to the ground beside the patrol car.
An officer repeatedly tells members of the public to 'get back' while they angrily confront the pair, with one shouting: 'He's in a bad way'.
The clip was uploaded to the Birmz is Grime blog with the caption: 'West Midlands police you're in the wrong for this one.'
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police told MailOnline: 'While under arrest for drink-driving following a non-stop collision at the junction of Wash Lane and Flavells Lane last night, a 41-year-old man assaulted one of our officers by kicking him.
'Force was needed to restrain the man, and body worn video has since been reviewed where the force used is deemed not to be excessive.
'We understand that footage shared on social media is alarming, but our officers are trained in how to restrain members of the public in these circumstances, while also dealing with hostile witnesses, as was the case in this instance.'
Footage shows the suspect yelling out in pain as two officers attempt to detain him with one pinning him to the ground by his neck in Yardley, West Midlands, last night
A 41-year-old man had been arrested for drink-driving following a hit-and-run and 'assaulted one of the officers by kicking him', said police
Some social media users argued unreasonable force had been used but others defended the officers.
One wrote: 'Funnily enough the video missed out why the geezer's being dragged out the car for initially.'
Another added: 'Moral of the story... don't get nicked and if you do don't resist', while a third said: 'Don't resist arrest you won't get slapped, it's not hard to understand.'
An officer repeatedly tells members of the public to 'get back' while they angrily confront the pair, with one shouting: 'He's in a bad way'
Onlookers are pictured surrounding the two police officers. West Midlands Police said it considered the force used by the officer not to be excessive after reviewing the footage
But a person tweeted: 'That could have been resolved without a punch to the face.
'Violence breeds violence. He won't respect the police anytime soon.'
Another added on Instagram: 'Police are employed to keep us safe and not punch and sit on us.'
And a third commented: 'Wtf man, can't be sending bangs like that.'
