DAMNING footage shows an innocent cyclist being pepper-sprayed and repeatedly punched by two police officers.
Mr Michael Rose was stopped by the officers during the height of lockdown in April 2020 in Aston, West Midlands.
The footage, which was obtained from a nearby home, shows disgraced PC Declan Jones punching Mr Rose repeatedly before he was pepper sprayed by Sgt Jennifer Edwards.
The shocking incident sparked a misconduct hearing into the behaviour of West Midlands Police.
Jones was convicted and jailed over the attack and later took his own life.
Almost three years on at the West Midlands Police disciplinary hearing Sgt Edwards denied breaching professional standards, Birmingham Live reports.
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On Monday, February 6, a hearing heard how Sgt Edwards followed and searched Mr Rose alongside PC Jones before PAVA spray was discharged twice.
A breach of standards in relation to the reason given for the stop and search was not proven.
Mr Rose explained at the hearing how he felt uncomfortable because the officers were not wearing face masks.
He said: "That's why I didn't move, I had nothing to hide so I stayed there.
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"I had never been stopped by the police before. That was the first time I had ever been.
"They had no masks. I was trying to keep myself away from them. They were roughing me up. I didn't want them in my face.
"I was being roughed up for no reason. He slammed me against the car. Look, he is pushing my face down. He is taking off my mask and breathing in my face."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – which investigated the case over 11 months – said misconduct had been proven in a published outcome.
The watchdog said Sgt Edwards had been handed a final written warning which will stay on her record for four years.
A spokesperson said: "At a two-day gross misconduct hearing organised by the force, which concluded on Tuesday, February 7, PS Edwards was found to have breached police standards of professional behaviour for use of force at the lower level of misconduct.
"This was in respect of her use of PAVA spray on the second occasion during the incident."
The statement went on: "She was also found to have breached the standards for conduct and for duties and responsibilities for not showing the man courtesy, consideration and respect and non-compliance with the requirements of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
"The independently chaired disciplinary panel ruled that the officer’s actions amounted to misconduct – rather than gross misconduct – and handed PS Edwards a final written warning which will stay on her record for four years.”
Mr Rose's stepfather Bernard Jones described the attack as "vicious".
"He wasn't resisting, he was telling people to keep their distance.
"PC Jones walloped him three times with full force.
"Mikey is only a little thing."
Following the outcome, community leader Bishop Desmond Jaddoo released a statement on behalf of Mr Rose and Mr John.
He said: "We welcome the findings against Sergeant Edwards, who was the senior officer on the scene at the time when this occurred.
"In the view of Mr Rose and Mr John she did nothing to de-escalate the attack Mr Rose was subjected to.
"Although she has not lost her job, which in our opinion should have happened, we do welcome the final warning.
"It is time the West Midlands Police Federation takes stock.
"I believe some officers have stereotypical views when policing inner-city areas and this is not a great advert for community relations.
"However, on this occasion, the police officer has been held to account and it is hoped that moving forward community relations will improve.
"We must remember the police need the community and the community need the police."
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