Police Officer Throws Driver Under Bridge for Not Having Motorcycle License Plate

Brazilian Police Throw Motorcycle Under Bridge for Not Displaying License Plate

A video showing a police officer in Brazil throwing a citizen riding a motorcycle without a license plate under a bridge has sparked controversy.

According to foreign media including the UK Guardian on the 5th (local time), on the 2nd in a street in S?o Paulo, Brazil, Officer A, who was controlling traffic, stopped motorcycle rider Mr. B because he was riding without a license plate attached to the motorcycle. However, shortly after, Officer A took Mr. B to the bridge railing, grabbed one of his legs, and threw him under the bridge. This scene was witnessed by passersby and fellow police officers.

Brazilian police are pushing citizens off the bridge. X (formerly Twitter)

A citizen explained, "The man who was thrown under the bridge climbed up the hill by himself and was then transported to the hospital with the help of a friend." Fortunately, Mr. B is reported to have no serious life-threatening injuries.

In particular, the video of the incident spread through social networking services (SNS), causing public outrage. The released video shows several police officers controlling the road on the bridge. Among them, Officer A lifted Mr. B’s leg, who was wearing a blue T-shirt, and pushed him off the bridge. As a result, Mr. B fell about 3 meters and plunged into the water. Three other police officers nearby watched the scene but took no action.

According to Mr. B’s side, he is a delivery worker with no prior criminal record. It is known that Mr. B suffered this ordeal while asking Officer A why he was stopped. Mr. B’s side emphasized, "The police exist to protect the people," and added, "We want Officer A to explain why he acted this way toward Mr. B."

This incident occurred amid a surge in police violence in S?o Paulo. Last month, a police officer shot and killed a young man who stole soap. Local citizens also pointed out that this case is a clear example showing that police violence in S?o Paulo state is becoming increasingly severe.

The S?o Paulo State Public Safety Department (SSP) arrested Officer A, and 12 other police officers involved in the incident were suspended. The governor of S?o Paulo stated on X (formerly Twitter), "The police must provide professionalism in protecting people," and added, "The police are out on the streets to fight crime and make people feel safe." S?o Paulo Prosecutor General Paulo Costa also issued a statement calling the incident "shocking and absolutely unacceptable," and announced that a special investigation team will lead the inquiry.