Clifton NJ police officer facing questions after video surfaces of him punching teen

A Clifton, New Jersey police officer is facing questions after a video of him allegedly punching a teenager surfaced on the Internet.

The footage appears to show 15-year-old Alex Cruz going at it with a Clifton police officer in a video that went viral on Youtube.

The officer pushes him to the ground, but he gets up, runs toward the officer, and appears to slap him across the face. Then, an all-out altercation breaks out.

“He pushed me and hit me and the other cop came and choked me,” said Cruz.

In an exclusive interview with ABC Eyewitness News, Cruz says he was just trying to break up a fight between his girlfriend and another girl when the officers showed up.

“He said I hit him before everything happened and I didn’t,” adds Cruz.

Clifton police have seen the video and are investigating but so far standing by the officer’s use of force.

“Whatever force is reasonable in overcoming the force the suspect is using against the officer,” said Det. Robert Bracken.

Police say once he was handcuffed and bought to headquarters, his attitude didn’t get better.

“Upon arrival at headquarters he continued his belligerent aggressive behavior toward officers… He began spitting on the floors of the police department,” adds Cruz.

Even though Alex says he did nothing wrong, he would do something different next time.

“I could have let them do what whatever,” he adds.

No one involved says the Clifton police officer didn’t hit Alex, the question is, was he justified in doing so.

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