A man in Buffalo, New York, bled from his head after police pushed him down while containing protests.
During a protest at Niagara Square in front of the Buffalo City Hall, police enforced a line to contain protesters, pushing one individual to the ground.
The police department initially reported that the injured man tripped and fell, but Buffalo Police Department Captain Jeff Rinaldo said an internal affairs investigation would be opened into the police’s conduct that led to the man’s injury, by order of the commissioner of police.
A BPD official told a WIVB News 4 Buffalo reporter that they were “just made aware of the video, and it’s currently being looked at.” The outlet also reports the man suffered a laceration and a possible concussion.
He was taken by paramedics for examination shortly after the incident.
An earlier press release from a city spokesperson says this man tripped and fell. Here is video of that incident from WBFO reporter @MikeDesmondWBFO. A BPD spokesperson tells me they were “just made aware of the video and it’s currently being looked at.” https://t.co/TbINWD5cjh
— Marlee Tuskes (@MarleeTuskesTV) June 5, 2020
WBFO NPR reports that the two police officers involved have been immediately suspended by Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
UPDATE: The two officers have been immediately suspended by Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood. A full Internal Affairs investigation is underway.
— WBFO (@WBFO) June 5, 2020
Police arrested five individuals for disorderly conduct in the city on Thursday, saying four blocked traffic while another was arrested after a skirmish with other protesters. A curfew was set in the city of Buffalo from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
