Tense Standoff After Criticism of "Passive Response"
Reporter Claims "I Did Not Resist," Files Assault Complaint Against Officers
Police officers who responded to a report of an assault engaged in a tense exchange with the reporter, who criticized their passive response. The officers then arrested the reporter, claiming that he "appeared to be using violence against the police." During the arrest, the reporter suffered a lacerated lip resulting in bleeding, as well as a fractured rib and other injuries requiring four weeks of medical treatment. The reporter has filed a criminal complaint with the prosecution against the two officers, accusing them of assault and causing injury in the course of duty.
According to Yonhap News on October 1, the incident occurred at around 2:53 a.m. on September 27 on a road in Nam-gu, Ulsan. A man in his 30s, referred to as Mr. A, witnessed a woman assaulting another man and called the police. When police officers from the local precinct, Sergeant B and Lieutenant C, arrived and appeared to take no significant action, Mr. A protested, saying, "What are you going to do if something serious happens? Shouldn't you do something quickly?"
However, Sergeant B and the others told Mr. A not to interfere, leading to a verbal dispute as Mr. A responded, "I witnessed an assault, so shouldn't I be able to report it?" Other citizens intervened to break up the argument, and it seemed the situation was resolved as Mr. A left the scene.
A short time later, Mr. A stepped outside to smoke and made eye contact with Sergeant B, who was sitting in the patrol car. They glared at each other, and the atmosphere grew tense as Sergeant B got out of the car and approached Mr. A.
Despite a friend’s attempt to intervene, Mr. A shouted harsh words at Sergeant B, and the two ended up in physical contact, pressing their foreheads together. Lieutenant C, observing the situation, approached Mr. A from behind, put him in a chokehold, and threw him to the ground. Sergeant B then grabbed Mr. A by the back of the neck and his sleeve, repeatedly pulling him toward the ground.
The officers then subdued Mr. A by pressing his head and neck with a knee, handcuffed him from behind together, and dragged him into the patrol car. The entire incident was captured on nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV).
As a result of the incident, Mr. A’s lip was split, causing significant bleeding, and he suffered a fractured rib and abrasions to his face when he was pinned to the ground.
The police and the reporter presented conflicting accounts. The police claimed that Mr. A was arrested on the spot for insulting the officers with abusive language, and that they used force because Mr. A appeared to be attempting violence against them.
In contrast, Mr. A stated, "I called the police twice, but the officers did not seem to be responding actively to the dating violence scene, so I pointed it out." He added, "Even as I was being pinned down, I did not resist for fear it would cause further trouble, and I was not properly informed of my Miranda rights at the time," expressing his frustration.
Mr. A believes that the officers’ use of force to subdue him in the absence of any threat or resistance constituted an abuse of police power, and has filed a criminal complaint with the prosecution against Sergeant B and Lieutenant C for assault and causing injury in the course of duty. It is reported that the local police station in Nam-gu, Ulsan, where the officers are assigned, contacted Mr. A to arrange an apology only after reviewing the CCTV footage.
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