Police in Clifton, N.J., are defending an officer's use of force to deal with a teenage boy who allegedly interfered repeatedly with their efforts to break up an after-school fight.

Amateur video shows the officer shoving the teen away from a fight Wednesday between the boy's girlfriend and another girl. It then shows him ordering the boy to move way. When the boy gets up and appears to reach for the officer, the video shows the policeman taking a swing at the teen though it is unclear how he connected.

Police then struggle to wrestle the boy to the ground.

Police spokesman Robert Bracken tells The Record of Woodland Park the officer acted appropriately to defend himself and those around him. The boy faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault.


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