A Baltimore protester wearing a "F--- THE POLICE" shirt was seen pepper sprayed, pulled to the ground by his hair and then dragged away by police in a shocking confrontation captured on video.
The video begins with the man, who was outside past the 10 p.m. city-wide curfew Saturday night, standing defiantly with his arms to his side as a police officer emerges and sprays the protester while holding the can a short distance from his face. The man in the shirt tried to remain in his spot though was obviously affected by the chemicals.
An officer then walked behind him and pulled him to the ground by the back of his hair.
More than half a dozen cops then converge over him as protesters across the street voice their displeasure. One officer is seen flinching, as if he was ducking a thrown object, and then sprayed his can at the crowd from the far distance.
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Andrew Burton/Getty Images A man wearing a ‘F--- The POLICE’ shirt was pepper sprayed and detained by police for violating curfew in Baltimore Satuday night.
Later he is seen sitting on the ground leaning against a brick wall as a cop is flushing out the chemicals on his face with a bottle of water. Next to him is an upside down sign that reads "Amnesty 4 Jailed Youth."
"No, I can't" he is heard wailing as he shakes his head and tried to lie on the concrete floor.
More water is then poured in his face as the video ends.
The Associated Press released the footage but the man was not identified. The video does not show what occurred before the confrontation with police.
The city has had a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in place since Tuesday after violent riots hit the city the day before. This incident occurred at Pennsylvania and North avenues and at least five people were apprehended, reports NBC News. The city announced Sunday morning the curfew had been lifted.
Joe Marino/New York Daily News After he was sprayed, officers then forced him to the ground and handcuffed him.
The image of a white police officer spraying and forcefully apprehending a black man will not help quell calls of racism and police brutality by residents in Baltimore following the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray who died in police custody on April 12. Six officers were charged in the death on Friday, which led to more peaceful protests on Saturday.
The issue of the curfew is still contentious and led to Saturday night's incident.
But not all protesters were treated in the same manner.
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Joe Marino/New York Daily News Officers later poured water into his eyes to flush out the chemicals.
Robert Stolarik/Polaris The confrontation occurred as other demonstrators and media watched and recorded the events.
David Goldman/AP Police physically dragged their suspect across the road when arresting him.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images Police did not identify the man Sunday morning.
James Keivom / New York Daily News A man is placed inside an ambulance after being pepper sprayed Saturday night.
"Media: We are not talking. Please reach out to Black led organizing for analysis on racism/white supremacy in Baltimore," read one sign.
The group was given three warnings by 10:10 p.m. and the remaining members of the group left without incident. No one was arrested.
Baltimore police did not respond to messages seeking comment on the incident or the man’s condition Sunday morning.
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