Footage of a cop pushing a motorcyclist riding on the sidewalk in Thailand has been making rounds online.
The clip proved divisive among netizens, with no consensus on whether it was appropriate for the police officer to get that aggressive in stopping the motorcyclist from breaking the law.
According to Matichon, authorities have since looked into the matter and urged officers to be more careful in how they enforce the law.
On 27 June, Thai Facebook page Hearonboard posted security camera footage of the incident.
It quickly garnered over 20,000 likes and over 1,000 comments.
A police officer comes to a stop on his motorcycle as he spots a motorcyclist riding at him on the sidewalk to his left.
He got off his vehicle and attempted to stop the motorcyclist, who had a passenger in the backseat.
However, when the motorcyclist refused to slow down, the officer escalated his attempt to stop the man.
This eventually led to the officer pushing the motorcyclist, causing him to lose balance and fall over.
Source: เฮียขับรถ on Facebook
A nearby bicyclist had to quickly duck out of the way as the man fell onto the bike.
For the next minute, the person riding in the backseat lifts the fallen motorcycle and helps the rider up as the officer watched.
The viral footage prompted a police investigation, which subsequently confirmed the incident occurred on 24 June at around 5pm.
Authorities said the officer eventually ticketed the motorcyclist for riding on the sidewalk and against the flow of traffic.
As of 28 June, the fine against him has been paid.
Police are also currently reviewing the officer’s conduct.
They also urged officers to use discretion in enforcing the law and prioritise public safety.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from เฮียขับรถ on Facebook.