BOSTON (WHDH) - A video of what appears to be an off-duty Boston Police officer roughly dealing with a pedestrian has prompted an internal investigation within the police department.
According the police report, the pedestrian was trying to cross Arlington Street Tuesday afternoon against the light. As he was doing this, the off-duty police officer in his own car made a sharp right turn from Boylston Street, coming close to the pedestrian.
Witnesses said the pedestrian then struck the car’s window with his umbrella. The officer got out of the car, and then pedestrian started to run away.
Stephen Harlowe said he saw the officer chase after the pedestrian, who then fell down on the sidewalk.
“The elderly guy kind of fell and the guy in the jersey tackled him and he slammed him to the ground. At that point, the guy was flat with his hands over his head,” said Harlowe, who filmed the incident and put it on Facebook. “And he took his head and he slammed it again and then he grabbed a handful of hair and pounded his head again,” said Harlowe.
The officer allegedly accused the pedestrian of cracking his window with his umbrella and was seen in the video leading the man back to his car. The pedestrian was briefly detained by Boston Police but was not charged.
Mayor Marty Walsh expressed concern over the pedestrian’s conduct.
“Internal Affairs is looking at it,” Walsh said. “Clearly there was an incident where a gentleman hit an off-duty police officer’s car with an umbrella, we can’t be having that in the city of Boston, and we’re going to see what Internal Affairs finds.”
Boston Police said their Internal Affairs Department is aware of the video and is now investigating.
The pedestrian was briefly detained but was not arrested or charged.
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