Brockton Officer Allegedly Knelt On Student; Placed On Leave

BROCKTON, MA — A Brockton police officer has been placed on leave after video surfaced of him appearing to kneel on a student he was arresting outside of Brockton High School on Wednesday.

The video was posted to the NECN website and shows the officer kneeling on the student's back. NECN said it was recorded outside during the school's lunch break and was posted to social media.

In a phone message to families, Superintendent Michael P. Thomas said the officer, who has not been named, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation launched by Brockton Police Chief Manny Gomes, The Boston Globe reported.

"A member of the Brockton School Police Department placed a student under arrest after the student was alleged to have physically attacked another student," Gomes said in the phone message, as reported by the Globe. "The video depicts the moment the student is being handcuffed and the way the student is being restrained during the arrest has been cause for great concern."

Thomas said the police department is gathering all available videos from cellphones and surveillance cameras in the area, the Globe reported.

The arrested student, who has not been named, was charged with assault and battery and has been released to his parents, NECN said.