A New York man sued the Suffolk County Police after an officer physically assaulted him during a traffic stop in Medford, Long Island. It started as a normal traffic stop on Long Island, but soon turned into a legal battle between the man identified as Craig Manning and the police officers.

The incident happened on April 2 when Manning was driving, while an unmarked police vehicle was following him. On the dashcam footage, Manning was seen driving straight. On the other hand, the police told him that he had made an illegal left turn on a multi-lane street.

After being pulled over by the police, the officer asked him to show his license and registration. He told the officer on duty, Robert Rufrano, that he wanted to speak to a supervisor. He did not come out of his vehicle as the police requested, but unlocked his car door. This is where things got violent as the officer entered his vehicle and tried to remove him from the vehicle by force.

Manning tried to record the conversation on his phone, but the officer slapped the cellphone out of his hand and put handcuffs on him. The officers yelled at him to stop resisting the arrest. Manning did not hit back but said, “Are you having fun? Punch me again!” He raised his arms to defend himself from the punches.

He punched Manning on the face five to six times. There was another officer, Samantha Skippon, on the other side of the car, trying to restrain him. All this was recorded on the dashboard camera as well as a police bodycam. The incident has sparked debate over excessive use of force during a normal traffic stop.

After getting punched multiple times, officers threw him to the ground, and several police officers were present to arrest him. His mugshot showed a gash on the forehead. According to him, the officers targeted him because he was African-American. Moreover, he claims the officers violated his rights and used excessive force on him.

Manning’s attorney, Frederick Brewington, noted that the arrest was wrong from the beginning. He said, “He should never have been charged with any criminal charges. The arrest was wrong from the beginning.”

He further added, “The evidence in this case shows this is a police officer who not only escalated the situation but was completely out of control. We have asked in three separate appearances in open court that he be arrested.”

Another side of the debate arises from the legal requirement to show the documents if a traffic police officer asks. According to criminal justice professor David Sarni, a person is legally obligated to provide their registration and license during a traffic stop. Besides, the officer has the authority to ask a person for documents, and a supervisor is not needed.

Manning will pursue a lawsuit against the officers involved as well as the Suffolk police department. The department has not commented on the incident and may conduct an internal investigation. Meanwhile, due to pending litigation, they won’t be able to reveal much publicly. Newsday reported Manning did not plead guilty to charges of traffic violations and resisting arrest. The county judge issued an adjournment if he does not pursue any legal actions until June 22.