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Images on social media appear to show an officer with a knee to the head of a man during an arrest
The Meteorological Police must formally apologize to a man who was detained while a police officer appeared to kneel on his neck, his lawyer said.
Marcus Coutain, 48, was filmed telling officers to “take my neck off” when he was arrested in North London on Thursday.
His attorney, Tim Rustem, said the events “reflected almost exactly what happened to George Floyd,” who died after being restricted in the United States.
A Met officer has been suspended and another placed on restricted duties.
The Met “quickly evaluated the incident” and referred it to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), which is conducting an investigation.
The force said it would not issue any further statements.
A protest against the arrest was held Saturday outside the Islington Police Station.
On Saturday, Mr. Coutain pleaded not guilty in Highbury Corner Magistrates Court for possessing a knife in public.
Police said officers were called to report a fight on Isledon Road on Thursday.
Images posted on social media that night show two officers holding a handcuffed black man on the sidewalk.
In court, Rustem said the police should apologize.
‘Deeply disturbing’
Speaking outside of court, Mr. Rustem said the Crown Prosecution Service should review the case, drop the charges, and offer a “formal apology” to Mr. Coutain.
Rustem said his client was legally carrying a blade to repair his bicycle.
“Basically, Mr. Coutain was detained and sought matters for which he has not been charged,” he said.
“It is the use of what I would consider excessive force, a knee placed on his neck … references that reflect exactly what happened to George Floyd in the United States.
“A man who says ‘I can’t breathe’ and ‘take your knee off my neck’, while he was already handcuffed and two police officers held him.”
He said his client was fortunate to have “minimal” wrist and neck injuries, adding: “Fortunately, it did not have the tragic consequences we saw in the United States.”
Deputy Commissioner Sir Steve House described the footage of the Islington arrest as “deeply disturbing” and said some of the techniques, “which were not taught in police training,” caused him “great concern.”
In a statement, the Meteorological Police said it had quickly evaluated the incident, including the video used by the officers’ body and their statements and justification for their use of force, and forwarded it to the IOPC.
In Islington, about 30 people gathered in front of the police station in protest of the way Mr. Coutain was arrested.
The case was sent to Snaresbrook Crown Court on August 17.
