A man who alleges police punched him in the head during his arrest plans to lay a complaint.
A witness filmed Pitiroi Turner being arrested in the carpark of a KFC in Napier last night, but police say the video doesn't show the whole picture.
Turner was on the ground with one arm handcuffed when he appears to be punched.
Police say the man's head was pushed to the ground to stop him struggling, but Turner refutes this claim.
"That was a punch. I've got the lumps on my head still," he says.
This afternoon Turner watched the video, which has now been viewed on Facebook about 100,000 times, and says he is "disgusted" with what police did.
But Napier police say it doesn't give the whole picture, as it doesn’t show the lead up to the arrest. According to police, Turner was wanted on warrant and refused to get out of the car. They say he struggled violently when police tried to handcuff him, despite being pepper-sprayed.
Turner says he was wiping his eyes to try to see his one-year-old daughter, who was there with his mother, girlfriend and sister. According to police, the three women were also arrested at the scene for becoming abusive and violent.
Police say their actions will be reviewed as part of normal procedure when force is used, but no staff have been stood down.
Turner appeared in Hastings District Court this morning on three charges - including resisting arrest.
He says police were aggressive and he plans to lay a complaint.
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