09 June, 2017
A police union official said the video "clearly shows" officers acting in the victim's interests. "As I previously said, we will utilize all resources available to the Prosecutor's Office for a full and thorough investigation as we seek to bring this matter to a rightful conclusion". Officers had fired shots as they chased him. But the driver kept going.
He allegedly crashed into a utility pole which burst into flames and injured another driver who was not involved in the pursuit. It's apparently this driver who can be seen in the video (watch the graphic video in the player above).
The video shows the man trying to put out the flames when officers surround him with guns drawn and then begin kicking him.
The reaction to video from Sunday's police pursuit showing what appears to be police beating a man coming out of a burning vehicle has sparked a debate into just what the officers were doing.
They were caught on camera kicking a man on fire after he crawled away from the wreckage.
Prosecutors said cops believe the man engulfed in flames in the horror footage was an innocent driver, not Pinkston.
The man who caught Jersey City police officers allegedly kicking an injured bystander after a fiery auto chase on video said the officers "made a big mistake" in treating the man that way, according to news reports.
Police say Pinkston caused at least two separate crashes after trying to escape from officers. "I was able to speak to him and know that we are here, and I know he's gonna be OK", said Angeanette Munoz, the mother of Feliz's 6-year-old son. Watch the cellphone video below: In the video, the first officer goes up and kicks Feliz, knocking him down.
"They came out into the middle of the road and created a barricade", witness Tom Evans said.
The man, identified by CBS4 as 28-year-old Miguel Feliz, was hospitalized and scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday. "We're IDing officers. We'll pursue termination + criminal charges as appropriate". His family told News 4 NY that he has severe burns and fractured ribs, and that he's going into surgery on Thursday.
Pinkston has since been charged with aggravated assault and eluding.
A bystander, who had caught on fire when he was accidentally involved in a auto crash during police pursuit of another vehicle, appeared to be kicked and dragged by officers after he escaped his burning vehicle in a cellphone video recorded by an observer.
In the video, they move in on Feliz - who is on fire! - and kick him once he's extinguished his burning clothes, dragging him into the street and arresting him. The person filming the scene cried out for police to "help him".
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has also expressed concern over the incident and promised "to be aggressive" once the policemen involved are identified.
