Philly Police Investigate Viral Video of Officer Shoving Man Over Apparent Social Media Interaction

A roughly 40-second viral video has triggered a formal internal investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department after officers confronted a group of men in West Philadelphia last Thursday, 6abc.com reported.

The footage, captured near 54th and Arlington streets, shows an officer exiting a police vehicle, approaching the group, and immediately shoving a man named Jerald Bridges while asking, You want to like my daughter’s pictures? The same officer then turns toward the individual recording the encounter and knocks the phone out of his hand.

Philly police investigate viral video of officer shoving man over apparent social media interaction

According to Bridges in an interview with 6abc.com, the altercation marked the second time the two had crossed paths that day. The initial interaction occurred hours earlier outside a nearby store when Bridges was waiting for food. Bridges stated that the officer told him to move faster and threatened a civil violation notice before placing him in handcuffs.

He told me to move, and I told him, I said, ‘I’m waiting for my food,’ Bridges told 6abc.com. He said, ‘You’re not moving fast enough, I’m gonna give you a CVN.’ I said, ‘Alright.’ When I started to walk off, he grabbed me and put me in handcuffs.

Bridges received a citation and recorded video from the back of a police cruiser during that first incident, identifying the same officer involved in the later street encounter. Hours later, the two men encountered each other again near 54th and Arlington streets.

Philadelphia police investigate viral video of officer shoving man over apparent social media interaction — Photo: newsbeep.com

Bridges strongly disputes the officer’s accusation that he liked photos of the officer’s daughter on social media. While Bridges acknowledged that friends had commented on the officer’s Halloween photos—specifically remarking that a clown outfit suited him—he maintained that no one interacted with the daughter’s pictures or disrespected her.

Bridges also reported that the officer threatened him during an off-camera exchange, leaving him fearful for his safety due to the officer’s access to a firearm and personal information.

The Philadelphia Police Department confirmed it is aware of the viral video and launched an investigation, though the department declined to comment further. Action News reached out to the Fraternal Order of Police for comment but did not receive a response, 6abc.com reported.