Video shows two men stepping too close while the officer’s colleague tried to detain their friend. After several ignored warnings to “back up,” the officer reacted — pushing two of them away and slapping another who appeared to grab his arm.
Witnesses can be heard shouting as the situation briefly escalates before additional units arrive to calm things down.
Police officials have not commented yet, but online viewers are split — some say the officer was defending his partner, others say he overreacted.
