Violent arrest caught on video leads to internal NYPD probe

Video of a violent arrest that escalated into a near-brawl between cops and an unruly suspect has prompted an NYPD investigation into why a sergeant tasked with overseeing the collar never left his patrol car during the chaotic scene.

A 6-minute video obtained by The Post shows a half-dozen officers struggling to arrest 29-year-old suspect Dominique Nicholson on a Brooklyn sidewalk Tuesday while Nicholson resists, yelling and thrashing against cops’ attempts to handcuff him.

“What am I being arrested for? Why are you arresting me?” Nicholson can be heard bellowing at arresting officers. “I know my rights, you can’t just f–king arrest me, all right?”

The incident unfolded when officers were called to Parkside Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, responding to complaints about public drinking, marijuana smoking and noise in the area, police said.

As the cops tussle with the man, witnesses can be heard saying on the video, “Your sergeant is calling you, abide by your sergeant. They’re being called by their sergeant and they’re refusing orders.”

But according to the head of NYPD’s Sergeants Benevolent Union, Ed Mullins, that’s not what happened.

“The sergeant is trying to get involved but he can’t leave the prisoner,” Mullins said explaining that the cops already had someone in cuffs in the back seat. “The sergeant was actually yelling at the cops to get over here so he could get involved.”

Nicholson eventually is handcuffed and brought to a squad car, all while he continues to resist. He was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, police said.

The raucous arrest has prompted an internal NYPD probe into the incident and angered law enforcement, who believe the sergeant should have jumped out of the vehicle and managed the situation, sources said.

“It’s such a s–t show. The sergeant stayed in the RMP [radio motor patrol car] when he should be out there supervising,” a police source told The Post.

“What’s going to happen next? The perps will be driving the RMP and the cops will be sitting in the back. Great leadership, sit in the car while your troops are fighting. Great, great. That’s great leadership right there,” the source said.

Mullins disagreed, saying the sergeant was just following protocol — and that the arrest took so much effort because cops are pulling their punches in the wake of Officer Daniel Pantaleo’s firing.

“They’re all afraid of getting jammed up… everybody’s afraid to put their hands on somebody, especially after Pantaleo,” he said.

The supervisor’s actions are under review, an NYPD spokeswoman said in a statement.

The incident is not the first time an NYPD sergeant has been investigated for standing by during an arrest. Sgt. Kizzy Adonis was docked 20 vacation days for failing to supervise during the struggle that led to the death of Eric Garner on Staten Island in 2014.