Video shows US police officer repeatedly punching man in the face during arrest in Maryland

Police said Zachary C. Blumenstein of Chevy Chase, Maryland, attempted to resist arrest

At one point, one of the officers appears to strike Blumenstein several times in the face

Baltimore County police said they plan to review the arrest of a 19-year-old man outside a popular bar in Towson after a video of the incident shows officers taking him to the ground and at least one who appears to punch him several times in the face.

Police said Zachary C. Blumenstein of Chevy Chase, Maryland, resisted arrest as officers tried to arrest him outside The Greene Turtle restaurant and bar on York Road.

The county’s police chief, Jim Johnson, said in a statement that the department is reviewing the involvement of one of its Towson officers in arresting Blumenstein. The statement said cellphone video taken by a bystander and put on YouTube shows three officers trying to arrest Blumenstein.

“One of the officers strikes Blumenstein in the head several times as he resists,” the police statement said.

The video shows three different officers involved in arresting Blumenstein. One officer appeared to get on top of him in the street. Another officer comes over at one point and appears to put his knee on Blumenstein’s head. One officer is seen appearing to grab and hold him from behind.

At one point, one of the officers appears to strike Blumenstein several times in the face. Blumenstein was picked up off the street by the officers and it appears he was put in a police cruiser.

The video is taken as several bystanders are watching on the sidewalk and making comments. Police are repeatedly telling them to leave the area and go home.

The Baltimore Sun was among the first to report of the incident and the police investigation. The Sun said it talked to Blumenstein’s father, who confirmed it was his son who was involved in the incident.

Johnson, the police chief, said in the statement that the department “takes the use of force seriously and will review this incident for compliance with use of force training.”

He also said that it “appears that the officer did escalate the use of force as required by the [department’s] policy.” He said he was “concerned about the officer’s use of a closed fist to strike the suspect several times.”

Police said the incident with Blumenstein began around 12:40 a.m., about 40 minutes before the video was reportedly taken. According to police, Blumenstein “engaged in a verbal altercation” in front of the bar and restaurant. Five other men tried to restrain him, police said.

A police officer ordered Blumenstein to leave the area but he “remained verbally combative, yelling profanities,” according to police. The five men “moved him from the location,” according to police. It was not clear where they moved him.

Around 2 a.m., police said, Blumenstein pushed a man into York Road. A police officer told Blumenstein he was under arrest, but he resisted, according to police. He was told to stop resisting, police said, but did not. Another officer arrived and Blumenstein continued to resist.

An officer then used pepper spray, authorities said. Police said Blumenstein “continued to refuse to comply with the officer.”

He was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. He also faces other charges of failure to obey a police officer.

Washington Post