BALTIMORE, Oct. 13 (UPI) — Baltimore police have launched an investigation of a police officer after cell phone video appears to show him spitting on a handcuffed man, authorities said.
Sergeant Robert Mesner, a 34-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Dept., is allegedly seen in a shouting match Oct. 11 with a man as he arrests him.
In the video, an officer alleged to be Mesner said “You’re going to be Tased. You’re under arrest. Get down, man. You’re under arrest.”
“Go ahead! Go ahead! Do it!” the other man said.
Then the officer handcuffs the man and seconds later, appears to spit on him. An off screen bystander is heard yelling, “He just spit on him, he just spit on him.” Tensions escalate before police tell people to move back.
“Our internal investigation progressed rapidly today with the review of available video and interaction with witnesses. The video appears to depict the police sergeant spitting on the arrestee,” Interim Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said.
“That is outrageously unacceptable and it directly contradicts the necessary community relationships we are striving to rehabilitate. The police powers of Sergeant Robert Mesner are now suspended, and a criminal investigation is underway. Our entire community deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” Davis said.
Comment count on this article reflects comments made on Breitbart.com and Facebook. Visit Breitbart's Facebook Page.