NYPD cop filmed BOXING with suspect he was trying to arrest said he stopped Harlem man over a KNIFE and was 'pushed repeatedly' before confrontation
- Plainclothes NYPD officer filmed fighting George Saykou on Wednesday
- Takes suspect's ID and decides to arrest him - but man does not comply
- NYPD officials have said Saykou had a knife in his shorts pocket
- Also said he was pushed before cellphone user started recording
- Eventually more officers arrive, bring the man down and arrest him
- Saykou was later charged with assault and resisting arrest
An NYPD cop who ended up boxing with a suspect on the streets of Harlem after an arrest turned violent said he stopped the man for carrying a knife.
The plain-clothes officer, who has not been named, was filmed swinging punches at local Saykou George after he refused to come quietly on Wednesday of this week.
A bystander filmed part of the arrest, which ended with back-up cops tackling Saykou to the ground. The footage was shared online and watched thousands of times.
Brawl: A plainclothes officer, left, is pictured above taking a man's ID during an arrest Wedensday - but the encounter turns violent
Throughout the confrontation, during which Saykou hands over his ID but declines to be arrested, bystanders claim the arrest is taking place for 'no reason'.
However, officials speaking to the New York Daily News said that the 1:15pm arrest was sparked by a knife dangling from the pockets of Saykou's shorts - though it cannot be seen in the video.
It was also said that the officer was pushed over and over by Saykou before the cell phone recording began. There was also a bout of pushing included in the footage before fists started to fly.
After the confrontation, Saykou was charged with assault, resisting arrest and weapons possession.
Jun Ice, who filmed and uploaded the video, can be heard shouting incredulously that his friend was being detained 'over a penknife' while the two were walking back from a pizza shop.
Brawl: The unnamed officer is pictured (left) preparing to fight Saykou George. He lands several punches on the suspect's face (right)
In the video, Syakou can be heard protesting. At one point he says: 'I didn't do nothing for nobody - I'm going to my home, that's where I'm about to go.'
When the officer tells George he is under arrest, he says: 'No y'all ain't arresting me for nothing'. The fight breaks out moments later.
NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton defended the officer Thursday, saying the footage showed 'nothing inappropriate'.
According to the New York Post, he said: 'My preliminary review, I saw nothing inappropriate with the officers' behavior. We will look at the partner, what she was doing during this process, and the responding officers as we always do'.
Back-up: After hitting the man another time (left), the officer's back-up arrive and tackle George to the ground (right)
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