Video of Dover police arrest latest in line of footage showing alleged excessive force

On Sunday, a video showing a Dover police officer repeatedly punching a man while attempting to restrain him made its way through social media, eliciting anger, outrage and a protest.

As the state Attorney General's Office investigates the Sunday morning arrest, the video brings into focus police incidents captured on video. Much like the video of the Sunday arrest, footage of police using force to make an arrest often spurs debate and a sea of mixed reactions.

The debate has brought with it calls to both strengthen and limit the state's records law. In New Jersey, only certain videos are covered under the state's Open Public Records Act, which allows residents to request records from state and local offices.

A landmark state Supreme Court ruling in 2017 declared that dashcam videos of incidents in which police officers use deadly force must be made available to the public. Law enforcement agencies must also release the names of the officers involved in fatal shootings.

The ruling, considered by advocates of government transparency as a historic win, was prompted by a lawsuit filed in 2014 by North Jersey Media Group, a division of Gannett that publishes The Record and NorthJersey.com.

In August, the state Supreme Court ruled that police do not need to release dashcam videos relating to criminal investigations unless an officer uses deadly force. The ruling declared that the public has no right under state law to review these videos. 

Under a 2018 proposal by Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, the public would have greater access to videos recorded by police during incidents when officers use deadly force. The video would typically be made available within 20 days of a incident, according to the policy.

Paterson police officers assault patient

In March, cellphone videos made public during court proceedings show a suicide patient being slapped and punched by former Paterson Police Officer Ruben McAusland.

In one video, McAusland slaps the man, Andrew Casciano, so hard that blood sprays across a hospital bed. In another, McAusland is seen punching Casciano while he is in a wheelchair, in the nurse's station.

Casciano filed a $4 million lawsuit against the city. McAusland was sentenced to 66 months in prison in March.

The videos were pieces of evidence that ultimately resulted in McAusland's conviction on charges of drug dealing and assault. McAusland and seven Paterson officers have been investigated and arrested as part of an FBI investigation into the department.

Wildwood beach arrest

In 2018, video was released showing Wildwood police's violent arrest of a 20-year-old Philadelphia woman on the beach over Memorial Day weekend.

The video, shot by a nearby beachgoer, showed an officer punching her twice in the head as she lies on the sand, her legs flailing. The beach confrontation began when the woman, Emily Weinman, repeatedly refused to give Wildwood officers her name when they questioned her about the presence of alcoholic beverages on the beach.

The footage caused an uproar, with many people claiming the officer used excessive force to arrest Weinman. 

The officers involved were cleared of wrongdoing after authorities reviewed that video and police body-cam footage.

Elizabeth officers' arrest 

Video footage of a 2013 arrest in Elizabeth was at the center of a lawsuit filed by Jerome Wright, the man who was arrested, against the city. 

Wright, who is from Philadelphia, claimed he suffered "significant injuries" to his neck and spine during the arrest, according to his attorney, and an officer admitted in testimony that he never officially reported that he hit the man with a metal flashlight.

The suit claimed officers used excessive force, including chemical spray, kicks and punches. The lawsuit also claimed that officers "fabricated" a police report to cover up their actions.

In court testimony, Elizabeth Police Officer Rui Xavier admitted he left facts out of his arrest report, including that Wright's hands were up in the air and that he struck Wright with a flashlight and kicked him.

The city settled the lawsuit in October 2017 for $250,000.

Berkeley Township police arrest deaf man

In 2016, a Rutherford man who is legally deaf was arrested by police in Berkeley Township, after police responded to the home for a domestic incident. 

The man, Heriberto Carrasquillo, 59, accused several Berkeley Township officers of punching and kneeing him and pushing his face into concrete after he led them to see several imitation firearms.

Carrasquillo claimed he could not understand the officers' instructions and had let the officers know that.

Carrasquillo ultimately filed a lawsuit against township police, claiming he was a victim of excessive force. Township police denied any wrongdoing in their responses to his complaint.

Last year, the township agreed to pay $82,500 to Carrasquillo in a settlement.

Carteret teen arrest

Last week, a Carteret man testified that a Carteret police officer repeatedly beat him after a pursuit and crash in 2017.

Monte Stewart, who is now 18, identified the police officer as Joseph Reiman, in Middlesex County Superior Court. Reiman, the younger brother of Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman, is now on trial after he was indicted in September 2017 for allegedly assaulting and causing injury to Stewart, who was then 16.

Reiman is accused of repeatedly hitting the teen after the boy exited the car, following a May 31, 2017, pursuit, crash and arrest.

Reiman has been charged with aggravated assault, official misconduct, failure to activate his body camera and failing to use reasonable discretion or restraint in the amount of force used to apprehend the teen.

Reiman, who is suspended from the police force with pay, is also accused of including false information in his police report. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jersey City police allegedly kick man burning after crash

In June 2017, Jersey City police allegedly kicked a West New York man while he burned, after a fiery car crash. Video footage taken by a bystander allegedly shows police kicking Miguel Feliz after the crash.

Last year, Feliz filed a lawsuit against Jersey City and the Police Department, alleging excessive force. Four officers face criminal charges in connection with the June 4, 2017, incident.

Two of the officers were accused of assaulting Feliz. All four have pleaded not guilty.

Email: torrejon@northjersey.com

This article contains material from The Associated Press.