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.
10 thoughts on “Video Shows Greensboro Police Officer Knee On Man’s Neck, Another Throwing Blows [VIDEO]”
No matter what he did it doesn’t give them da right to punch him
bruh how u make selling hemp legal in the state of north carolina but then u arrest this man??? HEMP is LEGAL. BS laws & policy built only to punish Black ppl. make it make sense
GREENSBORO police murder a man just this summer. On August 5 the police killed Said Ezzine. Its the same old same old!!! no justice no peace!!!
Based on what we know from the article, it seems the guy was minding his own business in the passenger seat of a car, and that this incident occurred simply because the puritans are still afraid of marijuana. Anti-marijuana laws exist to oppress the people and must be repealed.
That wrong what they did to that man but God is in control and just like that 17-year-old boy 18 just turned 18 he raped three women and he get to go free but you got these blackguys who doing life you know why because he’s white y’all need to reopen these case where these black guys can get less time not life
Boo phucking hoo!!! Ye must comply!!! And he was not handcuffed and beaten!! Clearly you can hear the officers shouting give us your hand!!!
SYBAU! You racist hicks are so pathetic! I’m not sure why you’re mad at black ppl! It was your mom who screwed her brother and made you!!
Damn Shame!! It’s Always Something!!😢 It’s Starting Again!! 😔
How about your house getting blown apart, tear gas and rubber bullets doing over $40,000 dollars of damage. Gpd. You call them for help and because your child that does not live with you, has an active trespass for your address . Did a crime and ran to your house. I call for help they destroy my home. All they did was leave a warrant on my kitchen table that had no chairs left after they tore up my home. My son still has mental illness. Had it then but they didnt give a squat. 2022
Myself and family were victims of GBORO Police dept back in 1987, The fire dept was called because my house was on fire and my son was beat up and arrested. I was arrested and thrown across the top of the cop car. (I had on a back brace from my arm pits to my hips, they didn’t care) and my daughter taken to juvie. WE DID NOTHING WRONG. The only punishment given to the officers was desk duty for a few weeks. No I don’t trust the cops any more. My story can be found in the Gboro News and record