Excessive force? Or the bastard deserved it?

[ItalianFX]

Based on the video, this is way too excessive. There are other ways to get someone to comply rather than putting a knee to his throat and punching him in the face. All the officer had to do was stand up, pull up on the guy's arm and drag him to make him go onto his stomach.

We don't know what happened before that, but in the article it says, "There is no denying that the video is disturbing," Bratton said. "But as to whether the actions of the officers were appropriate in light of what they were experiencing, and the totality of the circumstances, is what the investigation will determine."

and that is what is really the truth. The "totality of the circumstances" is the key word.

However, this is pretty excessive to any means. There are a lot more ways to make this guy comply.