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A man was hospitalized after being slammed to the ground by a Chicago police officer Thursday when he allegedly spits on a cop while being detained for drinking alcohol in public.
A 41-second cellphone video captured the incident and was posted to social media.
Police say two officers approached a 29-year-old man who was drinking alcohol at a bus stop in the Chatham neighborhood. Officers said the man became "irate" and threatened them. After the man licked an officer's face and spit in his eye and mouth, the officer performed an "emergency takedown," according to officials.
The man has been identified by his mother as Bernard Kersh. Keshia Johnson said she fell to her knees after watching the video of her son.
"I was nervous. I was scared. My heart dropped. I know I automatically thought the worst. He wasn't moving," Johnson said.