Dashcam Shows Black Man Being Beaten And Punched By Suffolk Officers

Black motorist Craig Manning says a routine traffic stop turned violent after officers pulled him over on a busy Medford roadway and repeatedly struck him during a traffic stop caught on dashcam.

Dashcam footage reviewed by News 12 Long Island shows Manning stopping his Fiat 500 after an unmarked police vehicle activated its lights behind him. Officers told him he had made an illegal left turn before the exchange quickly became tense.

Recording shows Manning refusing to hand over his license and registration while asking to speak with a supervisor. He also held up a cellphone and recorded part of the interaction as officers stood on both sides of the vehicle.

After asking for a supervisor, he eventually unlocked the car door. Shortly afterward, officers pulled him from the vehicle and a struggle followed.

Manning claims Officer Robert Rufrano and others used unnecessary force during the arrest. He alleges he was punched in the face and head several times while officers attempted to take him into custody.

Attorney Frederick Brewington later released a photograph showing injuries Manning says were sustained during the altercation. Images taken after the arrest showed a visible wound on his forehead.

Conflict now centers on whether the force used during the stop was justified. Manning argues the officers violated his civil rights during what began as a traffic violation.

Suffolk County police have not publicly addressed Manning's allegations. The county and several officers are named in a civil rights claim tied to the April 2 traffic stop.

Visual record is expected to play a major role as the matter moves forward. For Manning, the dispute is no longer about a traffic violation but whether officers crossed a line that left him bloodied, injured, and searching for accountability after the April stop on a busy Medford roadway.