UPDATE: 3 N.J. cops put on paid leave after ‘disturbing’ arrest video shows officers repeatedly punching man in face

A Morristown man who had an outstanding warrant out was badly beaten by police as he was held on the ground and arrested in Dover early Sunday, a video recorded by a friend shows.

It’s not clear what led to Cyprian Luke, 19, being punched by police, taken to the ground, pepper-sprayed and choked. Police charged Luke with assault and criminal mischief. He has a 1:30 p.m. court appearance scheduled for Monday.

The arrest is under investigation by authorities.

“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office notified the N.J. Office of the Attorney General of this matter and is conducting the investigation under the supervision of the OAG,” a Morris County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman said in a statement Monday morning. “No further information can be released at this time.”

Luke was being sought by authorities on a domestic violence charge, though family members claim police didn’t mention the warrant when they approached him near a Krauszer’s store at 2 a.m. Saturday.

“When I started running over there and recording him the first thing I see - they sprayed him with mace, and they were all on him,” Marcus Robinson told DailyRecord.com in a video interview. “He couldn’t move his arms but then they were saying 'stop resisting; at the same time. They started punching him. I thought he was going to die.”

WARNING: The video below contains explicit language.

This is how Dover, NJ Police took into custody 19 yr old Cyprian Luke who was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for domestic abuse case.

Morris County Prosecutor’s Office now investigating allegations of police brutality @abc7ny pic.twitter.com/DsUbbIlIB0 — Lucy Yang (@LucyYang7) May 20, 2019

Robinson and Luke were in Dover to get tattoos, Robinson told DailyRecord.com. Luke is scheduled to appear in court in Monday. The extent of his injuries isn’t known by friends and family said he is badly bruised and in pain, the report said.

About 50 people, including friends and family of Luke - protested outside of Dover police headquarters on Sunday evening.

Dover police couldn’t immediately be reached by NJ Advance Media for comment on Monday morning.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman.

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