A police officer was punched in the face by an alleged drug dealer and accidentally sprayed in the eyes by a colleague after a patrol stopped two "suspicious" cars.
Video footage circulating on social media showed the scene on Ritson Street, Toxteth, at around 10am on Thursday as a plain clothes patrol attempted to detain the occupants of the silver Ford Focus. The video, filmed on the dashboard camera of a car in the street, showed four officers attempting to drag two men out of the vehicle, one from the driver's side and the second on the passenger's side.
The man in the front initially pulls back before he relents and steps out of the car, but the second suspect struggles hard to avoid being detained. The video shows one officer landing a number of punches and kneeing the man as he is removed from the vehicle.
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While the second man is being dragged from the vehicle, he suddenly puts his hand to his face and drops to his knees. The ECHO understands he had been accidentally caught by the incapacitant Pava spray, which his colleague had sprayed into the car from the opposite window.
Merseyside Police said that suspect had resisted arrest and acknowledged that the video could look concerning "when viewed without wider context". However the force said the man had punched an officer in the face and that the vehicle had attempted to drive away when pulled over, prior to the beginning of the video.
A statement from Merseyside Police said: "Officers on patrol identified an Audi and a Ford Focus in Ritson Street in suspicious circumstances. The occupants of the Ford Focus made attempts to drive off but were stopped and a search was carried out of both vehicles.
"One of the occupants of the Ford Focus resisted arrest and punched an officer to the face. Force was used to remove this suspect from the vehicle and he was handcuffed and arrested, and a second man was also arrested. Cash was seized from the Audi, along with phones. A search of an address resulted in further cash being seized and a third man being arrested."
The a 19-year-old from Halewood was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, common assault and obstructing police. Two men, aged 22 and 26 and from Toxteth, were arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property.
All three were taken to police stations for questioning. Two have been conditionally bailed and the 22-year-old released under investigation.
Liverpool Community Policing Superintendent Diane Pownall said: “We are aware of social media video of this incident, and how it may appear when viewed without wider context. This incident is subject of an ongoing investigation.
"We can confirm that we have arrested three people on suspicion of drug supply, who are now in custody. One of our officers was injured, but thankfully has been assessed and continued their duties. As part of this investigation, we will fully review the circumstances of the arrests.”
Anyone with information can contact @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with the reference number 22000883629.
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