Webster police defend violent arrest of teen and release body camera footage

A small Worcester County police department is defending its officers’ actions after a chaotic video circulated on social media showing officers wrestling and punching a teenager during an arrest.

“I have to admit the video doesn’t look nice. But whenever officers have to use force, it never happens,” the Webster Police Department said on Facebook. “The viewer has no idea of ​​the circumstances that led to this interaction, what the officers’ perception of the situation was and why they responded as they did.”

Webster police responded to reports of three juveniles removing what appeared to be guns from a backpack near Park Street and Myrtle Avenue on Saturday evening around 5:39 p.m., the department said. Police note that “it was later discovered that both men were minors.”

Officers were unable to locate the teens, but shortly afterward it was reported that three youths “had just shot out a car window, and there was an altercation involving them on Wall Street,” according to the Facebook post. Officers were advised that a firearm may have been used by one of the persons at the scene.

“This clearly increases the need for officer safety,” the department said.

Japhet Villanueva, 17, spoke to WHDH after the high-powered arrest and identified herself as the teen in the video. In the interview he is seen with a broken nose, missing teeth and bruises. He claims he only pushed the officer slightly to protect himself.

“There was no reason to beat me to a level where I can’t even speak correctly,” Villanueva said told the news station. “It’s just crazy that I’m almost seen as a bad person, like I want to beat up a cop or just something stupid like that, when in reality I was just trying to protect myself.”

Video shows violent encounter with teen, Webster police

In body camera footage of Sergeant Derek Mroczek released by the Webster Police Department, the officer approaches two of the fighting teens, or what appears to be someone restraining Villanueva, who is shirtless. Mroczek appears to pull the boys away, and officer Alex Johnson tries to push Villanueva down with his arm. The department alleges the teen’s hands were “in the vicinity of” Johnson’s firearm “while they struggled.”

“Get started,” Johnson said.

“Don’t shoot him!” his friend repeatedly yelled at the officers. The department said this statement “would lead officers to believe that a firearm may be present at the scene.”

The video then shows Sergeant Robert Larochelle running toward Villanueva, wrapping his arms around his stomach and pulling him to the ground. The teen continued to fight with the officers on the ground. Mroczek asked if he should tase the boy, and one of the other officers responded, “Yes, I tase him.”

The officers punched Villanueva in the face several times and said “get down.” After the Taser made contact with his back, the teen, who was lying on his side on the ground as he was punched and restrained by officers, said, “I can’t, I’m down.” Mroczek notices that the teen is bleeding on his back.

“Now lie on your stomach,” one of the officers said, apparently correcting himself. Because the boy was still on his side and not fully restrained, Johnson kneed his upper chest and punched his face repeatedly, the department said.

“I’m going. I’m going,” the teen screamed as Mroczek pressed the Taser against his back again. The department said the Taser “was deployed, but had no effect.”

As Villanueva lay on his stomach, the officers appeared to still restrain him as they struggled to get his arms behind his back. “I can’t move,” the teen said.

“Hands behind your back. If you stand up, you’ll go crazy, understand?” said an officer.

“Yes, sir,” the teen said. “I didn’t do anything, mate,” he added after a pause. He asked what he was being arrested for, and OOne of the officers said there was assault and battery on a police officer.

“F-off, you’re under arrest,” one of the officers said in the video before making the accusations.

“You’re under arrest too, dammit,” an officer told the teen’s friend, who said he did not see Villanueva touch the officers.

“It’s on our body cameras, so shut up,” Mroczek said.

Two BB guns were found about 50 feet away, the department said, reportedly linked to the window shooting on Myrtle Street.

Johnson, who repeatedly punched the teen in the face, suffered a broken hand “and will be unemployed for the foreseeable future,” the department said. Larochelle also had minor injuries.

Webster police did not immediately respond to a request Tuesday evening to confirm whether either of the two teens will face charges.

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, covering education, politics, crime and more.