Northamptonshire Police have come under heavy criticism following the circulation of a video that appears to show officers using excessive force during the arrest of a university student named Santino. The incident, which occurred on August 8, 2024, has sparked outrage on social media, with many calling into question the conduct of the officers involved.
The widely shared video shows what appears to be a plain-clothes officer forcefully ramming Santino into a gate, before striking him twice as he lay on the ground. Seven more officers arrived at the scene shortly after, according to reports.
Santino, who had recently returned home from university, shared his side of the story on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He explained that he was walking home after visiting a local shop and stopping to greet a community elder when he noticed the officer approaching him. He initially ran out of fear but stopped when he heard the command, “Police stop.
“My first thought was to run as I didn’t know who or what this man was after,” Santino said. “At that point, I stopped, and as you can see in the video, this police officer charged me against the wall without any explanation.”
Santino further claimed that attempts to explain the situation to the officers were dismissed, and he was subjected to mocking. After the arrest, he was taken to a police station, where he alleges he was subjected to a strip search without being offered legal representation or an advocate, despite his requests.
“I had to go through a very invasive, demoralising, and embarrassing process for no reason as I didn’t do anything wrong,” Santino recounted. He also claimed that his request for a receipt detailing the search, which he believes he was legally entitled to, was denied.
As of now, Santino has not been charged with any crime.
Northamptonshire Police have yet to issue a response regarding the video or Santino’s allegations.
This story is still developing, and further updates will be provided as more details emerge.
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