Black driver, 70, stopped by police over brake light left hospitalised after arrest
A 70-year-old Jamaican man suffered serious facial injuries after being pulled over by officers for a broken brake light in London.
The police watchdog is now investigating his arrest after the man’s family has accused police officers of using excessive force.
Pictures shared on Instagram by a woman called Char – who identified herself as the elderly man’s daughter – reveal the extent of the bruises and cuts he received during the incident in Bromley on Monday afternoon.
They show him bleeding from a head wound on a hospital bed, and the woman said he has suffered a broken nose, broken cheek bone and eye socket, and deep cuts to his head.
The family is now awaiting an update about his condition from the hospital.
The Metropolitan Police said the 70-year-old driver became involved in a ‘struggle’ with an officer, during which the officer sustained an injury to his eye, but added that the man also sustained a facial injury and was given first aid at the scene.
But detailing the shocking altercation in a viral Instagram post, his daughter said: ‘This incident escalated because the police men pulled my dad due to one of his lights not working, which he was not aware of.
‘My dad is born and bred Jamaican who’s accent is very strong and he is not afraid to say what he feels about the Metropolitan Police and their corrupt racist system as my dad made hand gestures telling them to leave him alone they felt it was now their duty to physically abuse him.
‘My dad is 70 years old, no more than eight stone, 5ft 6 who has had multiple strokes, heart problems and is also on blood thinning tablets.
‘Multiple witnesses have stepped forward to describe the absolute torture they put my dad through until my brother turned up.
‘When questioned as to why they have assaulted him the police then lied to say my dad hit them.’
A number of activists and groups like Black Lives Matter London and Sistah Space have spoken out in support of the elderly man and have criticised the force for police brutality against black people.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed they are aware of the posts on Instagram.
In a statement, they said: ‘Shortly after midday on Monday, September 13, officers on routine patrol stopped a vehicle with a broken brake light.
‘After exiting the vehicle, the driver became involved in a struggle with an officer during which the officer sustained an injury to his eye.
‘The driver, a 70-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
‘He sustained a facial injury during the struggle and was given first aid by officers before being transported to a south London hospital.
‘He was later discharged from hospital before being taken to a police station from where he was released under investigation.
‘The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.’
The force has previously been accused for being ‘institutionally racist’, with the problem now being ‘worse now than 20 years ago’, according to a former officer.
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