Two police officers have been placed on restricted duties after footage circulated on social media showed one of them smashing a car windscreen when the driver did not follow his order to get out of the vehicle.
Scotland Yard confirmed that the driver, who gave his name in the video as Leon Fontana, was the victim of a case of mistaken identity.
“The investigation will examine the officer’s use of force during the incident,” police said in a statement released on Sunday afternoon.
The footage showed the man being told to get out of the car by the officers, who called him “TJ”. When he did not comply, one of the officers screamed at him, started pulling at his car window and hitting it, before smashing the windscreen and trying to cut away the shattered glass with a pocket knife.
What gives the right for this officer to damage this car @metpoliceuk who is he? pic.twitter.com/juti0GdvMH
— Mega SoSolid #S9 (@OFFICIALSOSOLID) September 17, 2016
The man told the officers he was not TJ and that he was recording the incident “for my safety”. The officers told him he was “not allowed to drive”, but he said he had a licence and insurance.
One of the police officers was heard to claim “I’ve done absolutely nothing” shortly after the windscreen was smashed.
Video 2 mistaken identity @metpoliceuk ??? pic.twitter.com/Hz2hbGAUkO
— Mega SoSolid #S9 (@OFFICIALSOSOLID) September 17, 2016
Police confirmed they had received a formal complaint on Saturday over the incident, which took place in north London on Friday afternoon.
“The footage continues to be subject to an investigation by officers from the directorate of professional standards and the driver of the car has been spoken to by these officers,” Scotland Yard said.
“Although the investigation is in its early stages, it has been established that the officers stopped the vehicle based on information relating to a man who is of interest to police. On conclusion of the incident the officers identified that the driver was not the man in question and he was not arrested.”
