Detroit officer punches man and knocks him out cold, faces swift backlash

close

Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for August 3

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Video out of Detroit shows a police officer punching and knocking a man out amid a brawl in the city. 

"It appears in this video — the cops attempted to break up a fight — and this guy was trying to get involved," Detroit Police Second Deputy Chief Rudy Harper said of the early Sunday morning incident. "He may have been trying to escalate it and may have even assaulted a cop."

DETROIT COUNCIL MEMBER INDICTED ON FEDERAL BRIBERY CHARGE

"Y'all ain't got to do that dog!" someone yells as the man falls down.

Police then try to lift him up, as the man eventually wakes up. 

The incident is now under investigation, with Harper describing the punch as egregious. The officer in the video has not been identified, and is now restricted to desk duty. 

The man who was punched could also face charges after the investigation, Harper added. 

DPD officer punches man in Greektown

Police were in the Greektown area of the city responding to a brawl that had broken out. Officers tried to remove the man from the brawl and punched him when he would not follow commands, according to Fox 2. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

"I have some serious concerns as to how that was handled. We've come to expect our officers to deescalate situations. I did not see de-escalation there, I didn’t see our training there," Interim Detroit Police Chief James White said. "If there is a violation, we are going to hold the officers accountable and we are going to be transparent about it to the community."

"The officer does deserve due process. We have to take some time and look at everything," added White.