DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit police are investigating their own after video of a brawl in Greektown involving officers went viral over the weekend, an incident Interim Detroit Police Chief James White says is "concerning."
The video, which was captured on Saturday night, shows officers approach a man in a Detroit Tigers' shirt who appeared to be talking to them.
One of the officers then punches the man in the face and knocks him to the ground. The man appears to be unsteady and dazed as officers attempt to get him up, and he slumps back over several times.
Shortly afterwards, a brawl reportedly started between Detroit Police and another man.
You can see video of both incidents below, but note that it contains very strong and offensive language.
The fights come less than two months after a similar incident in Greektown was caught on video.
As police intervened in a brawl between two large groups, some in the crowd began attacking officers. Several people were arrested and multiple cops were injured.
The interim police chief says the department's internal affairs is investigating the incident, but White admitted "it doesn't look good," and said it is concerning.
"It appears to be an unprovoked use of force," White said during a press conference Monday regarding an unrelated shooting at a gas station over the weekend. "My job is to ensure that I look at all assets, all camera assets, all reports and render the appropriate decision from my position as a chief. But right now, everything’s early, but I do have concerns.”
White says "we have come to expect our officers to de-escalate situations," but he did not see any de-escalation or the training officers are taught in the videos he has seen thus far.
“I’m looking at all the video assets involved in this incident, as well as the cell phone videos that I’ve received. I’m looking at the camera assets from the business, I’m looking at body cameras, I’m looking at in-car video. Internal affairs is investigating right now," he said.
White, promising transparency throughout the investigation, said the officer is still on duty during the investigation.
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