In a distressing turn of events, a police officer was heard crying out in agony as a suspect bit his leg during an arrest, an incident captured on video. The suspect, 39-year-old Luke Goodhall, has since been sentenced to jail for injuring the constable who was attempting to detain him.
The officer’s body camera recorded the harrowing moment, capturing his pained cries and desperate pleas for Goodhall to stop the assault. This incident took place in Cheltenham, where Goodhall was apprehended and faced charges in court.
On February 19, at Cheltenham Magistrates Court, Goodhall admitted to two offenses. He was handed a nine-month prison sentence for assaulting the officer, causing actual bodily harm.
In addition to this, Goodhall also confessed to a charge of common assault against another emergency worker, a second officer involved in the arrest. For this offense, he received a concurrent six-month sentence.
He was sentenced to nine months in prison for assaulting the officer after admitting to assaulting a person, occasioning them actual bodily harm.
Goodhall also pleaded guilty to common assault of an emergency worker, the second police officer, and was sentenced to six months, to run concurrently.
He was also charged with one count of assault by beating another person and is due in court on March 25 in relation to this allegation.
Due to Goodhall committing the offences while he was on licence, he will serve the remainder of his previous prison sentence followed by the nine-month term handed out last month.
Footage shows the moment Luke Goodhall bites a police officer’s leg
Goodhall was filmed assaulting the officer in bodyworn camera footage
The bite wound seen on the officer’s leg following the assault
Police also say the footage disproves previous online theories that claimed the video showed the officer using unnecessary force.
A passerby who filmed the interaction and posted it online sparked a social media frenzy, with the Gloucestershire Constabulary officer slammed for the use of force.
However, following a review, the actions have been deemed proportionate, necessary and legitimate.
A spokesperson for the police said: ‘A man has been jailed after he bit a police officer during his arrest in Gloucester last month.
‘A video filmed by a member of the public was posted on social media which showed a police officer using force on the man who was detained.
‘What was not clear from the video, which was posted without sound, is that the man who was under arrest, 39-year-old Luke Goodhall, was biting the officer’s leg at the time.
‘Gloucestershire Police’s Professional Standards Department reviewed the bodyworn video and the use of force by the officer (strikes to the body) has been deemed proportionate, necessary and legitimate.
‘Police have said they understand videos like this, where there is use of force, can cause concern but often the whole story is not known or captured.
‘Goodhall had been released from prison recently and was on licence. On that day, 17 February, at around 7.20pm a member of staff in the Force Control Room room saw him on CCTV and they reported that he was running after a person he knew and it is alleged that he assaulted them, which is why he was arrested by the officers on Eastgate Street.
The suspect was detained on the floor when the incident happened
After admitting to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, he was handed a nine-month prison sentence for the attack on the officer
Goodhall bit the police officer while being arrested, causing the cop to cry out in pain
‘He was further arrested for biting the officer and for trying to knee another officer in the face during a search.’
The officer filmed, who has been in the police service for 11 years, said: ‘I strongly believe in informed decision making and healthy discussions.
‘Being open, honest and acting with integrity is key to bridging the gap between police and the public.
‘I am now relieved that the full incident is being disclosed to promote that healthy discussion and hopefully bring about a better understanding of what occurred within this incident.
‘It is unfortunate that I was injured in this instance, but if any positive can be drawn from this, I hope the transparency helps foster an understanding into use of force and decision making.
‘I believe I have a good rapport with the people I come into contact with and the people of Gloucester; this is what I aimed to do when I started policing.’
Temporary Chief Superintendent Erica Field, Gloucestershire Police’s Use of Force lead, said: ‘Police officers are only allowed to use force to the extent that it is necessary, proportionate and legitimate in all the circumstances.
‘Officers are trained to use the least amount of force required to safely resolve situations, and to ensure their learning and skills are kept up-to-date, they currently attend Public and Personal Safety Training every year, which includes use of force.
‘Anyone can film officers in a public place and they expect this, but when that footage only tells part of a story, we feel we have a responsibility to provide the full operational context and support the officer, who was subjected to a nasty assault.
‘We will not tolerate any assault on our officers and will always seek a prosecution.’
Temporary Inspector Adam Williams, Branch Chair of Gloucestershire Police Federation, said: ‘Police officers face an extraordinary level of scrutiny in today’s world, and we absolutely recognise the importance of transparency and accountability in the work we do. But that scrutiny must be fair and based on the full facts – not on selectively edited clips circulated online without context.
‘In this incident, the full body-worn video confirms our colleague acted reasonably, proportionately, and entirely in line with his training while being violently assaulted. He was bitten during the struggle, causing a genuine injury, and he responded only to protect himself and bring a dangerous situation under control
‘Officers are assaulted at alarming levels – nearly 49,000 in the past year alone, meaning an attack on an officer every 10 minutes in the UK. These are the realities our members face daily while doing their utmost to protect the public.
‘It is deeply unfair for hard-working police officers to be tried on social media by individuals or groups who push only one side of the story. We welcome the Constabulary’s clear and robust assessment of this incident and its public support for the officer involved.
‘Our colleague showed professionalism throughout a dynamic and distressing situation. We are proud of the courage and dedication he displayed, and we will continue to support him – and all our members – who face increasing risks simply for doing their job.’
