Black student, 22, accuses police of 'brutality' after being mistaken for a drug dealer when he stopped to hand homeless man some change
A black student claims he was assaulted by a police officer after being mistaken for a drug dealer when he stopped to hand a homeless man some change.
A black student claims he was assaulted by a police officer after being mistaken for a drug dealer when he stopped to hand a homeless man some change.
A video of the incident appears to show Samuel Ackon, 22, - being punched several times as he is arrested.
The physical education student said he was treated like an animal and accused the Northamptonshire officer of police brutality.
He said he didnt want to play the race card but has questioned if he would have been treated the way I was treated if I wasnt of ethnic minority.
The force said it is reviewing the footage after Samuel was released without charge.
A video of the incident appears to show Samuel Ackon, 22, - being punched several times as he is arrested
The physical education student said he was treated like an animal and accused the Northamptonshire officer of police brutality
Samuel, a second year student in Wolverhampton, was visiting family in Northampton when the incident happened.
He said he was walking home after visiting a local shop and had given money to a homeless man when he noticed the plain clothes officer approaching him. He said he initially ran out of fear but stopped when he heard the command, Police stop.
CCTV footage of the incident shows Samuel running from the officer before he catches up with and slams him into a gate and drags him to the ground.
The officer appears to punch him while he is lying on the ground before handcuffing him. Nine officers in uniform then appear in the scene.
In a video posted online Samuel said he was beaten up by police because they said I was drug dealing in my local area because they have seen me give change to a local beggar who I always give change to.
He said he suffered a grazed knee and bruised ribs.
Samuel said he was taken to a police station where officers accused him of being part of a county lines drug dealing network.
He said he was told to squat to prove he hadnt hidden any drugs leaving him feeling degraded. He said he had never dealt drugs in his life.
The student said he initially ran out of fear but stopped when he heard the command, Police stop
Samuel said he was taken to a police station where officers accused him of being part of a county lines drug dealing network
He has instructed a solicitor and made a formal complaint to the force, asking for the officer to be disciplined.
Samuel said: As I was walking off, I just felt something walking towards me. It was a white man in a black hoodie.
I admit, I did run, but I stopped because I realised it was a policeman and apologised.
So Im thinking Im just going to be arrested or whatever, but I was hit, and hit, and hit, and I was thinking this is unbelievable.
He said he was smashed towards a wooden gate before losing his balance and falling to the floor, where he alleged he was beaten up. He said he would have stopped immediately had the officer been in uniform but had no idea who was chasing him. He said he immediately apologised for running when the officer did identify himself but was ignored.
The incident happened as he was walking along Northamptons Barrack Road on August 8.
Samuel said: Ive hired a solicitor, Miriam Altaf, shes working very hard to bring me some kind of justice.
Weve filed a complaint against Northamptonshire Police and weve also contacted the IOPC [Independent Office for Police Conduct].
I was complying with the officer, I didnt commit any crimes.
I couldnt believe I was the victim of such brutality from a police officer, Samuel added.
I asked myself if I would have been treated the way I was treated if I wasnt of ethnic minority.
In a video posted online Samuel said he was beaten up by police because they said I was drug dealing in my local area because they have seen me give change to a local beggar who I always give change to.
Northamptonshire Police said the man was questioned in relation to drug supply offences but was released without charge.
The force said it was aware of the CCTV footage and was talking to Samuel to discuss his concerns.
A spokesman said the incident was being reviewed internally, including assessments of officers body-worn cameras.
They said the stop was made after a person was seen to exchange a package, which was suspected to be related to potential drugs supply offences.
Solicitor Ms Altaf told Mail Online: The video has shocked and outraged many of those who have seen it.
My client who is a university student with no previous convictions, did not know that the undercover officer, who started chasing him just after he had given money to a homeless man, was a police officer, which is why he ran away in the first instance. When he heard the male chasing him identify himself as a police officer, he stopped running immediately.
Despite this, the undercover officer was clearly seen to be repeatedly striking the upper body of a defenceless young male, whilst restraining him, who was laying face down on the floor, not resisting arrest.
This type of force cannot be excused or justified and was completely unnecessary.
We want to raise awareness about this incident to deter officers from using unreasonable force, work with the relevant agencies to ensure that this incident is properly investigated and push for disciplinary action against the officer involved.
I am liaising with Northamptonshire police in relation to a formal complaint. This matter will also be referred to the IOPC.
Samuel has instructed a solicitor and made a formal complaint to the force, asking for the officer to be disciplined
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: Northamptonshire Police is aware of the online circulation of a CCTV clip which shows part of a stop search made in Barrack Road, Northampton, on August 8 this year.
The stop was made after an individual was seen to exchange a package, which was suspected to be related to potential drugs supply offences.
When officers approached to conduct a stop search the man ran off, resulting in a short pursuit before he was apprehended and taken to police premises for the purposes of an enhanced search.
Following a negative search the man was released with no further action.
We appreciate there may be concern around the short clip that has been shared online and are liaising with the man involved to discuss his concerns.
The Force can confirm the incident is being reviewed internally, including assessment of officers body-worn video.
