Cop Charged with Assault After Shocking Drug Arrest Footage Goes Viral
Detective Constable Faces Court Over Assault Claims
Detective Constable Kevin Rowley from the East Area Command Unit has been formally charged with common assault by beating. The charge came after a probe by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Rowley received the charge via postal requisition on Friday, 18 October, and is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 11 November.
Incident Sparks Social Media Storm
The incident unfolded during the arrest of a 17-year-old boy suspected of possessing class B drugs in Heath Park Road, Romford, on 22 April.
Following the arrest, video footage of the event circulated widely on social media, prompting public outrage and an immediate IOPC investigation.
Officer Now on Restricted Duties
The Metropolitan Police referred the case to the IOPC and has placed DC Rowley on restricted duties pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
