Police on Long Island are conducting an internal investigation after a video surfaced on YouTube that showed a Suffolk officer grab the throat of a man and push him while responding to a noise complaint at a house in March, authorities said.
Authorities say they were called to Sayville Road in Sound Beach March 28 after someone called to complain about a loud party. Responding officers dispersed a large crowd and the 31-second YouTube video apparently captured part of the commotion, police said.
Mike Schuchman, the man captured in the video, admits to drinking that night but says he believes his rights were violated and the officer was trying to goad him into acting out.
"He was trying to provoke me to get me to do something so he could arrest me," said Schuchman, 22.
Schuchman told Newsday he first argued with the officer outside the house when the officer allegedly tried to gain entry to his home. Suffolk police confirmed they dispersed a large crowd from the home that night.
Some of Schuchman's neighbors say unruly parties at the house have been commonplace for several months.
Suffolk Police say the department is aware of the video, which also shows the officer cursing repeatedly at the man. The department says its Internal Affairs Bureau is conducting a "complete and thorough" investigation into the matter.
Local
--Greg Cergol contributed to this story
