The Paterson Police Department has confirmed that a Paterson police officer is the man seen in a YouTube video pointing a gun at another man and kicking him.
News 12 New Jersey was given several videos that shows the officer shouting at a group of men and pointing a gun at them. He is also seen kicking a man. The victim tells News 12 New Jersey that he was not arrested nor detained.
Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale would not confirm the identity of the officer seen in the videos, but did say the case is under investigation at the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. He says the officer is still working his beat.
"That officer is on full duty. All reports have been filed. The partial YouTube video has been provided to the county prosecutor," says Director Speziale.
Sources close to the investigation tell News 12 New Jersey that the officer in the video is Officer Luis Torres. According to witnesses on scene, Torres was off duty at the time and was trying to find out who was at the scene of a stabbing that involved his son earlier on the day of Sept. 24.
Several videos from around the city have surfaced that seem to show Torres running around the city confronting people. The victim seen being kicked in the video says that he believes Torres mistakenly thought he may have been involved.
When asked why the officer is still on city patrol, Director Speziale says that it is because no one has filed any sort of complaint.
"We have nobody saying 'This is what happened'," he says.
A complaint may be coming soon, as one of the men in the videos tells News 12 New Jersey that he has hired an attorney.
News 12 New Jersey has reached out to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, but did not hear back for comment.