Video Shows Greensboro Police Officer Knee On Man’s Neck, Another Throwing Blows [VIDEO]

GREENSBORO, NC – A viral video out of Greensboro, North Carolina has the city fired up — showing three officers restraining a man on the ground, with one officer’s knee pressed near his neck and another appearing to punch him in the head multiple times but Greensboro Police Department says it was his shoulder.

The footage, posted by Facebook user Evan Johnson, quickly sparked outrage across social media with the caption:

“This is how the police in Greensboro North Carolina are doing young people of color.”

But now, Greensboro Police are speaking out — saying there’s more to the story.

According to Greensboro Police Department, the incident happened on November 2 around 11 p.m. in the 2000 block of Veasley Street, after officers spotted 37-year-old Nathaniel Williams sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle.

Officers say they observed marijuana in Williams’ lap and ordered him to get out of the car. Police allege that after multiple requests, Williams refused to comply, leading officers to remove him from the vehicle and place him in handcuffs.

During the arrest, police claim Williams freed one of his hands from the cuffs and assaulted an officer, prompting a struggle that moved to the ground.

GPD says Williams continued to tuck his arm underneath his body, refusing to be re-cuffed — which led one officer to deliver what they call “suprascapular strikes” to his back and shoulder area to gain compliance.

Police say the arrest was completed without further incident and that their Professional Standards Division is now investigating the use of force seen in the video.

Greensboro Police say Nathaniel Williams was charged with the following:

• Two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer – Felony

• Destruction of evidence – Felony

• Possession of marijuana – Misdemeanor

• Possession of drug paraphernalia for marijuana – Misdemeanor

• Maintain a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance – Misdemeanor

• Resist, delay, and obstruct – Misdemeanor

• Communicating threats – Misdemeanor

Despite GPD’s explanation, residents are still expressing outrage online — saying the video doesn’t match the justification police are giving.

In the 25-second clip, an officer can be seen kneeling on the man’s neck or head area as another tells him, “You have an assault charge.” Seconds later, a second officer—wearing visible stripes—punches the man in the head at least seven times and then kneels on him.

Outrage has erupted across Greensboro, with residents demanding that the involved officers be fired and charged with assault.

“The community is tired. We’ve seen this story too many times — different day, same brutality,” one local resident told The North Carolina Beat who shared the video to us.