NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A video first shared by The New York Post on Monday shows police officers violently arresting three people in Brooklyn after they allegedly refused to social distance.
Officials said on Saturday at approximately 8:40 p.m., they attempted to disperse a group not complying with social distancing regulations at the corner of Fountain Avenue and Blake Avenue in the East New York section.
"Officers gave multiple commands for the group to disperse," but 32-year-old Albert Jones allegedly refused, a police spokeswoman said.
The video starts as three officers are trying to cuff Jones, who is eventually forced to turn around and pushed against a vehicle.
As a crowd begins to gather around them, a man, who police identified as 28-year-old Antonio Rivera, runs towards the officers.
One officer is seen hurling his arm around, knocking him down to the pavement.
The officer yells "stand back!" at Rivera, who is seen lying still on the ground.
Rivera is turned on his stomach by an officer and placed in handcuffs as bystanders can be heard shouting out "He's unconscious!"
Other pedestrians are seen filming the incident with their phones.
Rivera had "approached officers from behind in an aggressive manner and attempted to stop the arrest of [Jones]," according to NYPD spokeswoman Detective Denise Moroney.
Moroney said that 31-year-old Gary Best also allegedly refused to disperse, becoming "boisterous, causing a large crowd to form."
"Physical force by police does not equal misconduct," she said.
"Under no circumstance are large group gatherings acceptable — they put our NYPD officers, frontline healthcare workers and others at risk," she added.
"That said, social distancing is about raising awareness for the common good rather than punishing the few."
All three men face obstructing governmental administration in the second degree and several other charges.
Jones was also charged with harassment in the second degree and disorderly conduct and Rivera was also charged with marijuana possession and resisting arrest.
Rivera was released without bail at his arraignment on Monday.
The video surfaced days after another viral video of an officer violently arresting a man over social-distancing on the Lower East Side, Saturday.
