The camera captures the policeman being dragged by a car while the driver walks away
Officer Kieron Poole said his meeting with Muhammad Nadeem was quite friendly at first, but things got worse when he mentioned cannabis. (Credit: West Midlands Police via Storyful)
WEST MIDLANDS, United Kingdom – When UK police showed Muhammad Nadeem the body camera images of his prison in January 2020, even he had to admit that the incident “does not look good”.
The West Midlands Police Department released the video on Thursday showing Nadeem dragging policeman Kieron Poole next to his car, despite repeated police orders to stop.
Nadeem, now 19, has admitted the crimes captured by the cameras and is awaiting sentencing, police said in a press release. They added that he was “shocked” when the footage was shown and admitted that “it doesn’t look good”.
The video shows Poole questioning Nadeem, who was sitting in a car with the windows open despite the cold. Nadeem told Poole that he was smoking, but Poole said he smelled pot.
As soon as Poole mentioned marijuana, Nadeem started the engine and sped off with Poole still hanging from the driver’s window, officials said.
Body camera footage shows police officer Kieron Poole taking the keys while a suspect drives off, dragging Poole with him. (Credit: West Midlands Police via Storyful)
“It all happened so quickly,” said Poole in the press release. “Before I knew anything, my arm was attached to the car and I was being propelled, hanging on the side, by some branches, a good six or six meters before I knew what was going on.”
Poole cried out for help, fearing he would fall under the wheels and die as the car drove away.
“I shouted ‘Stop! Stop’, but he wasn’t paying attention,” recalled Poole. “I knew I needed to get the key out of the ignition.”
Eventually, Poole succeeded and chased Nadeem on foot at a dead end, where the chase could have ended.
“I instinctively chased him. He was cornered and I expected him to give up. Instead, he decided to run towards me with a bottle and hit the side of my head hard with a plastic bottle. My adrenaline was going so I felt who could keep trying to chase him, “explained Poole.
For another five minutes, Poole ran after Nadeem, even crossing a busy road at one point. Eventually, the chase subsided for a hike.
At that point, Poole was taking care of an injured arm. As he had already been attacked, Poole kept his distance and waited for reinforcements to arrive.
Officer Kieron Poole (left) said his meeting with Muhammad Nadeem (right) was “quite friendly at first”, but things got worse when he mentioned cannabis. (Credit: West Midlands Police via Storyful)
I would like to thank the neighborhood police who responded within minutes to help me, “Poole said.
Poole returned to the parking lot where the incident started to retrieve his hat, which had fallen in the middle of the fight.
Upon examining Nadeem’s car, investigators found an ax and hammer. Nadeem also had a small amount of cannabis with him.
This story was reported from Atlanta.