Man released after officer’s kick caught on video

A 27-year-old man seen in a widely shared video being kicked by a police officer in Aarhus has been released without charge, his lawyer confirmed Monday.

Tobias Engby, the man’s attorney, told Danish broadcaster DR that his client was not held for questioning but was “released to the street” immediately after the incident. He said police determined the man’s actions did not justify further detention.

The video, circulating on social media, appears to show an officer running toward and kicking a man already on the ground during an arrest in Aarhus.

Thomas Skou Roer, a former investigator and current police researcher at Copenhagen Professionshøjskole, said the release suggests the man was not holding anything threatening. “If he had a knife or something to harm himself, he would likely have been hospitalized. If it was something that could harm officers, he would likely have been remanded in custody,” Roer said.

He added that the release weakens any potential justification that the officer kicked the man because he was holding a threatening object. “That explanation is in a very bad position right now,” Roer said.

When asked if verbal threats could justify the use of force, Roer said, “That is not my assessment, no.”

The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Authority (DUP), which will investigate. Roer noted the authority must still interview witnesses, secure surveillance footage, and obtain medical records.

East Jutland Police confirmed the case has been handed to DUP and declined to comment further.