Victoria E. Freile

ROC

Mayor Lovely Warren and Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli Friday morning asked anyone who witnessed or filmed an encounter between a city police officer and a city resident this week to step forward.

The request followed the surface of a 77-second video posted on YouTube and social media showing a city police officer striking a man several times during an arrest.

A sergeant was at 369 Genesee Street about 1:30 p.m. Thursday to take Clem J. Long, 36, into custody in connection with alleged illegal drug activity in the area. Long allegedly started to resist arrest, said Rochester police investigator Frank Camp.

Another person allegedly repeatedly struck the sergeant with a metal broom handle prior to the arrest shown on the video. Warren and Ciminelli said the posted video, which is now being reviewed by police as evidence, shows the final minute of the encounter on the front porch of the Genesee Street home.

The alleged attack on the officer was not pictured in the posted video.

Warren said she learned of the video from concerned city residents.

"When videos rise, we take them very, very seriously," Warren said. "But we also need the community's help. This (video) tells a part of the story, but we want to be able to hear the whole story. We want a clear understanding of what actually happened."

Specifically, city and police officials are asking anyone who witnessed or recorded the first part of the encounter, or the entire exchange, to come forward.

While some other departments around the country have outfitted police officers with cameras on their person or in their patrol cars, Warren said Rochester officials and officers must first learn more about the technology before considering installing them locally.

Long, a Columbia Avenue resident, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree assault, both felonies, resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

Court documents allege Long had 16 bags of cocaine and some marijuana on him Thursday afternoon. Ciminelli said the sergeant on Thursday was addressing numerous complaints of drug activity on Genesee Street when the incident occurred.

When Long allegedly resisted arrest and tussled with the sergeant, at least one more person joined the confrontation, Ciminelli said. Police are looking for the person accused of hitting the sergeant with a broom handle over his head and on his back.

The injured sergeant was treated at an area hospital and will remain off duty for several days to recover from his injuries.

Long pleaded not guilty on those charges and was remanded to the Monroe County Jail in lieu of $15,000 cash bail. He is slated to return to City Court for a preliminary hearing next week.

VFREILE@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/vfreile