The late-night incident in Pleshey Road

POLICE have launched an investigation into the arrest of a man in Tufnell Park after a complaint about the force used.

Judith Williamson, 70, said she watched a man being restrained on the floor by five police officers before having his legs tied up and his hands cuffed.

The incident unfolded last Monday at around 11pm near her home in Pleshey Road.

The retired university professor said: “I heard shouting and screaming, including the word ‘taser’, in the street below my flat.

“He was writhing and screaming ‘I can’t breathe’. It was extremely disturbing to witness.”

She said she tried to “intervene” but was told to “stand aside”.

Police said this week that they were responding to an alleged robbery following reports of a man seen jumping over garden fences in Anson Road. A helicopter was scrambled and dogs also sent to locate the suspect, while up to 12 officers attended the scene, according to witnesses.

“The level of force seemed to me excessive, given the man was not armed,” Ms Williamson said. “He was clearly terrified, seemed unwell, and was screaming with pain.” She said he was held in the street for up to 45 minutes before being taken to a police station.

“They finally forced the man into the van, bound, still screaming and banging his head,” she said. “The next day I made a complaint to the police as I felt their response had been disproportionate and I wanted to record that I had witnessed their actions.”

A video of the incident taken by one of the onlookers showed the man telling officers that they were hurting him.

A police spokesperson said the man, 40, was placed in leg restraints “following a struggle with police” and that an ambulance was called “as a precaution after the man was taken unwell”.

“He struggled again with police before being taken into custody,” he said, and confirmed the complaint made is currently being assessed by their Professional Standards Unit.

The spokesperson added: “Effecting an arrest or transporting someone into custody when they are not compliant can be extremely challenging and people nearby may not always be aware of the full circumstances.

“All officers are aware that use of force must be reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances. If there is any information to suggest that is not the case then further investigation will be conducted.”

A man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and bailed to a date in August.