Police officers in Jersey City, New Jersey are facing serious consequences after being captured on video beating an innocent man who endured a fiery car crash.
On Sunday evening, a vehicle being chased by police crashed into Miguel Feliz’s car while he was driving home from work. As he struck a utility pole, his car went up in flames.
The video footage depicts the 28-year-old escaping from his vehicle and immediately rolling on the ground, struggling to take off his clothes in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
Soon enough, police officers make their way toward the victim, pointing their guns at him. Several of the officers kick him and drag him into the street.
Due to the incident, Feliz is in critical but stable condition with 30 percent of his body covered in severe burns.
Leo Pinkston, 48, was the culprit who led police on the chase that caused the terrible mishap. Just that evening, he caused two separate car crashes while trying to flee the police.
After appearing in court Thursday, Pinkston was charged with “one count of eluding in violation and one count aggravated assault,” according to a statement from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s office.
The man who recorded the video, Erick Roberto, claimed he thought the police were rushing to help the victim. However, the scene he witnessed was the complete opposite.
“The video clearly shows what I saw,” Roberto told CNN. “I thought the police are going to help him.”
Upset by the police officers’ actions, Roberto left the scene.
“I couldn’t sleep that night,” he said. “I was so frustrated.”
Alexander Locatelli, Feliz’s attorney, claimed it’s evident the police were confused and mistook Feliz for Pinkston.
“Obviously, the video speaks for itself,” Locatelli said.
However, the police said they were attempting to rescue the burn victim.
“Taking swift action isn’t always elegant, but this video clearly shows that the officers acted quickly to extinguish the flames, and pull this man out of harm’s way,” Carmine Disbrow, president of the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association, said in a statement.
Roberto doubted the truth behind this statement.
“You can see it completely different in the video,” Roberto said. “He didn’t have fire on his chest and that’s where they beat him.”
Even Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop believes the video didn’t show “helpful hands.”
“I think any reasonable person that looks at that video would say those did not look like helpful hands,” Fulop said.
Once the policemen involved in this incident are identified, Fulop promised to show aggression toward them.
“We are going to pursue termination and criminal charges where appropriate,” he told CNN affiliate News 12. “We are not going to let some poor judgements from police officers reflect on the entire police department.”
