A policeman who was filmed smashing a man’s windscreen has been cleared of a series of charges by a jury in London.
Met Police officer Joshua Savage was charged after he confronted motorist Leon Fontana in Camden, north London in September 2016.
A video of him hitting the windscreen of Mr Fontana’s Ford Fiesta with a baton before cutting the glass with a lock knife was shared widely online and provoked public outcry.
But Savage, 28, was today found not guilty of destroying property, common assault and possession of a blade.
Policeman Joshua Savage has been cleared after he smashed the windscreen of Leon Fontana’s car in Camden in an incident which caused anger after a video was shared online
Police mistakenly thought the driver was a potentially violent drug dealer called TJ Dixon who may have had a weapon and only a provisional licence, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Savage’s actions have been described as those of ‘a bully in uniform’.
But, giving evidence on Wednesday, he insisted that he did what was necessary to protect himself, his colleagues and the public.
‘It was as a situation where I was trying to gain (Mr Fontana’s) compliance, trying to speak to him – absolutely the situation didn’t unfold the way I would have liked,’ he said.
The court heard that Savage had run a check on the vehicle by radio and learned that it had previously been used to make off from police.
He continued: ‘I knew I was in a police-unfriendly area, potentially with a person who could present a risk to myself or my colleagues.
‘I knew the driver was potentially someone who might make off from us, so I approached the vehicle feeling very anxious.
‘I explained why I stopped him. All he would say was “I’m not TJ Dixon” so he was well aware of my concern that he wasn’t entitled to drive the vehicle.’
Footage of Savage during the incident was widely shared online. He said he thought Mr Fontana was filming ‘for the benefit of the community and his YouTube fans’. Mr Fontana said he was scared for his safety
Savage said he was unable to see into the car properly because of its tinted windows.
‘I believed the driver to be Mr Dixon. We knew he presented a risk to police officers and the public in that he would be prepared to drive off and cause a pursuit.’
He added: ‘The subject was in a vehicle, a vehicle is a machine and he was completely in control of that vehicle.’
He said that when Mr Fontana started filming him, it seemed like he wanted to repeat the whole exchange from the beginning ‘for the benefit of the community and his YouTube fans’.
‘This is the problem we are seeing throughout London – police officers are more reluctant to deal with things because they are scared of what might come afterwards.
‘Hence why we are seeing gang members not being disrupted and the rise in violent crime.’
The footage shows Savage shouting through a slightly open window of the car. He said the vehicle had tinted windows and he smashed the windscreen so he could see in
Savage said Mr Fontana had repeatedly failed to comply with his requests and his commands.
‘My decision making was legitimate and lawful. It was made in line with the need to protect myself and my colleagues or to prevent harm occurring to members of the public or their property,’ he said. ‘It was also necessary for the arrest of the subject.’
Savage claimed that ‘the majority’ of response officers carry their own bladed tools on duty.
He said his job required a ‘cutting implement’ for acts such as slicing seat belts off trapped car passengers in emergency situations.
Savage said his multi-tool was always clearly displayed on his belt and that he’d never tried to conceal it because it is bright yellow.
In the footage, Mr Fontana refuses to leave his vehicle before the Metropolitan Police officer can be heard saying in footage played to the jury: ‘Get out of the car’, and ‘You’re not allowed to drive it’.
The incident unfolded in Vicar’s Road in Camden. Savage said it was a ‘police-unfriendly area’
Mr Fontana, who placed his keys on the dashboard, replies: ‘I’ve got a licence and insurance’ and says he is filming for his own safety.
In his evidence, Mr Fontana said: ‘I thought if I left that car I would have been in danger certainly. I certainly wasn’t getting out to a police officer with a knife and a cosh in his hand.’
Savage, of Wanstead, north-east London,has been placed on restricted duties by Scotland Yard since the incident.