NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Video footage of a bicyclist’s detention in North Charleston from earlier in May which circulated online was reportedly the subject of some criticism over the use of force employed by an officer on the scene. However, North Charleston Police officials have come forward saying the force depicted in the video was within department policy.
On May 14th, North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) officers responded to a McDonald’s located along the 2500 block of Ashley Phosphate Road regarding a collision involving a vehicle and a bicyclist. Upon arrival of the officers, a Charleston County Sheriff’s deputy was already on-scene and reportedly dealing with a male who was reportedly riding the bicycle during the incident.
NCPD officers reportedly witnessed the male actively resisting the deputy who was attempting to place the suspect into handcuffs. In response, one of the officers reportedly assisted the deputy in getting the suspect into custody, which a bystander had filmed the use-of-force incident.
In the brief video footage from the incident, one of the NCPD officers involved in detaining the suspect was seen kneeling on the man’s leg while he was placed in cuffs, reportedly resulting in some backlash after the video circulated online. Upon review by the NCPD’s Office of Professional Standards, officials say the use-of-force depicted in the video fell in line with department standards.
As for the man detained in the video, local reports note he suffered only minor injuries from the incident which were treated at the scene and did not require treatment at a hospital. Additional details regarding the incident reveal the subject’s detention stemmed from a misunderstanding of him being an aggressor when he’d apparently been the victim struck by the operator of the vehicle involved in the incident.
Local reports nor officials have provided any insight into the identity of the man featured in the video.
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