Video shows security officer punch man at transit center uptown

This browser does not support the video element.

By Mark Becker

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A security officer was caught on camera punching a man in handcuffs at the Charlotte Transportation Center in uptown.

Charlotte Area Transit System officials took action and told the security company, G4S, that officers assigned to the transit center must get training on the use of excessive force.

[ [RELATED: 9 Investigates rise in crime at uptown Transit Center] ]

The video was taken by a passenger on July 7, but the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did not know about the incident until Wednesday.

The video shows a group of officers working under contract with CATS surrounding a man on the ground.

The man on the ground was Patrick McManus, 25, who has been arrested more than two dozen times in the past three years.

McManus was being escorted away when he apparently fell down. That was when a security officer punched McManus about two times before another officer stepped in to push him away, the video shows.

McManus was taken to jail.

CMPD is investigating the incident, listing McManus as the victim.

“I'm glad that they're looking into it, and hopefully if it's determined that charges are warranted, that that would in fac, happen," said Willie Ratchford, CMPD community relations committee president.

[RELATED: Man accused of assaulting company police officer to face judge]

Ratchford said there's no excuse for what that officer did.

CATS officials told G4S the officer who appeared to punch McManus and his supervisor can't work as CATS contractors anymore.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: