Story By: Ernest Bio Bogore, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

Newsflash/@mez_one_mix

This is the moment cops are filmed beating a motorist at a traffic stop during COVID-19 lockdown in front of his mask-wearing girlfriend before later claiming he spat at them and said he had the bug.

The incident took place at a traffic stop in La Penne-Sur-Huveaune in the southern French department of Bouches-du-Rhone after the man was stopped for travelling in his vehicle with another person without a special reason.

In the first video, the man is seen getting out of the car before two officers appear to punch and kick him several times.

The second video shows the man being cuffed on the ground as his female companion look on from the pavement.

Newsflash/@mez_one_mix

Prosecutor Dominique Laurens said. “During his hearing, the 33-year-old defendant admitted to ‘behaving inappropriately’.”

Laurens added that the man “allegedly insulted and spat at police officers”.

According to reports, the man told officers that he went shopping with a passenger even though one person is allowed to visit the supermarket at a time.

Meanwhile, the cops reportedly claimed that the man snatched his ID out of one officer’s hands before growing angry and lashing out at them.

During his arrest, the man spat in the face of a police officer, claiming that he was contaminated with COVID-19, as well as threatening the life of another cop, according to local media.

Reports said that he was released the following day and an investigation into the incident is now underway.

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