Police have defended the arrest of a man in Harlesden heard in footage saying “I can’t breathe”.
The shocking video, posted on Twitter, shows a man being restrained by four officers.
In the footage, he can be heard saying “I can’t breathe” while a woman in the crowd shouts: “You’re going to kill him.”
Police say they were called to Craven Park Road yesterday just after 3.05pm after “receiving information” a man wanted on suspicion of a stabbing was in the area.
They arrested a man, 23, using CS gas. He was later “eliminated as a suspect” for the stabbing and “de-arrested”.
Replying to @iKeonMP, who posted the link, @Iona_xoxo, said: “I hope this incident is being investigated. The manner and over-use of force is ridiculous – the knee to the stomach and the spray.
“Also the lack of concern for the health of the young man [saying] ‘I can’t breathe’, and the distress of the people surrounding.”
A spokesperson for Brent police told the Brent & Kilburn Times the man had been “informed that he would be detained for a search” but “refused to follow instructions and resisted police efforts to restrain him”.
They added: “Due to the nature of the offence the male was suspected to be involved in, a number of officers worked to detain the male and approved techniques were used to place him in handcuffs. CS spray was also used.”
A police officer needed first aid for minor injuries after bottles were thrown by the crowd during the arrest, the spokesperson added.
All officers involved in the arrest were wearing body worn video cameras, the spokesperson added.
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