Police handcuff man behind his back after dispute over patrol car blocking weigh station

A police officer tackled a man to the ground and handcuffed him behind his back after a dispute over a patrol car blocking a commercial weigh station, a case that has drawn public attention. Police say the man obstructed their duties and was subdued in accordance with regulations, but the man says the officers used excessive force.

According to JTBC's crime affairs program "Sageon Banjang," the incident occurred Aug. 18 at a weigh station in Gangwon Province, where officers got into a confrontation with the station's owner, identified only as A, before restraining and handcuffing him.

According to A, a dump truck had entered the weigh station that day, followed by a patrol car. When the truck stopped on the scale, officers parked the patrol car in front of it and began an inspection.

A came out of his office and asked the officers to move the patrol car to the side so it would not disrupt business, saying there was ample space nearby to park.

A said the officers then told him he could face charges of obstructing the performance of official duties.

The situation escalated from there. CCTV footage broadcast on the program showed an officer throwing A to the ground, pinning his arms behind his back and handcuffing him. The footage also showed the officer pressing his knee forcefully onto A's head.

"I never pushed the officer or acted violently, but the police suddenly knocked me to the ground and put handcuffs on me," A said. He added that one of the cuffs was applied in reverse, twisting his arm, and that he still has scars on his wrist.

The program's production team said the CCTV footage did not show A using any physical force against the officer.

Police rebuffed that account, saying A had obstructed the performance of official duties and that physical force was therefore warranted.

Regarding the use of handcuffs, police said A "cursed at officers, pushed his forehead into theirs and snatched the truck driver's license that an officer was holding — all acts of obstruction." They added that A was knocked down as a result, and that handcuffs were temporarily applied when he attempted to get back up.

In response, A acknowledged using language along the lines of "damn police" but said he could not recall snatching the license.

A said he has since filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and is considering a civil lawsuit. Police said they have booked A on charges of obstructing the performance of official duties.

Meanwhile, the "Sageon Banjang" production team said it had requested dashcam and body camera footage to verify the police account but was refused on the grounds that the matter is under investigation.