Street fight in Troy escalates after clashes with police

TROY, N.Y. (WNYT) – A street brawl that broke out in Troy Friday morning turned violent after altercations with police. Troy police said they responded to a call about a street brawl on April 8.^th Street near the intersection with Hoosick Street just after 3 a.m. Friday.

A video obtained by NewsChannel 13 from neighbors shows the moment a police officer appears to hit a man.

Casandra Wagar lives very close to where the altercation took place. She says the use of violence was unjustified.

“They jumped on his back and turned him over like a doll, through the knee and into the back of his shoulder, and he was unresponsive,” Wagar said.

In a statement, Troy police said, “After the man grabbed the arresting officer by the arm with both hands and pulled, the officer resorted to additional defensive tactics.”

Wagar said she is a close friend of the man who was apparently beaten, David Gonzalez. She said Gonzalez has a disability that makes it difficult for him to stand up.

“He tried to grab the officer’s arms. He didn’t mean to hurt anyone, but he lost his balance when he hit him with his arm,” Wagar said.

NewsChannel 13 has reached out to Troy police to ask what “additional defensive tactics” means and has not yet received a response.