Law enforcement officers in Cranford are entrusted with what can often be a difficult task: enforcing the law while also respecting the rights of local citizens. That responsibility may typically be carried out without incident, yet there also may be cases where authorities use force when dealing with those who have come under criminal scrutiny. The use of force may indeed be justified if it is believed to be necessary in order to protect themselves and others. It should not be exercised, however, as simply a means to exert authority over another.
Investigators are currently attempting to determine which of the aforementioned scenarios was the case in the violent arrest of a man in Dover. One of the arrested man’s companions began filming the incident on his cell phone after an altercation ensued between the man and local police. The footage shows several officers subduing the man by pushing him to ground in an attempt to handcuff him. Punches were thrown and the man sustained cuts to the face before officers were finally able to handcuff him.
A warrant had been previously issued for the man’s arrest stemming from a domestic incident. The video footage does not show what happened prior to the man being forced to ground, and local leaders have cautioned against a rush to judgment before the investigation into the incident can be completed. The officers involved have since been placed on leave.
Just as many may immediately assume that the actions of officers in this case and others like is unwarranted, so too might others believe those detained in a similarly violent manner would only resist if they were guilty of whatever they were accused of. Those needing to overcome this assumption may want to seek out the services of an experienced defense attorney.
