Community activists and officials are reacting to allegations of excessive force in the City of Newburgh after leaked video of a police officer seemingly repeatedly punching a man being taken into custody.

The violent encounter was captured in a nearly two-minute recording by one of several witnesses heard yelling for the officer to stop during an incident on South William Street Aug. 7, at approximately 1 a.m.

The video appears to shows a male officer punch a man multiple times while they stood facing each other at arm’s length. The officer is then seen repeatedly punching the individual before and after the man is subdued by two other officers, and while he’s being tased by another officer on the ground.

Witnesses are heard on the recording saying the officer swung first.

“You can’t hit him like that. They’re shocking him,” yelled one witness.

The man is seen being handcuffed and the officer is heard speaking to the group of onlookers as they continue to question his behavior.

“I told him to walk away,” says the officer. “I should let him punch me in the face, right? He said he was going to beat the {expletive} out of me.”

The video doesn’t show what happened before the arrest.

News 12 reached out to City of Newburgh officials for information.

“Immediately upon learning of the incident, the City ordered an outside investigation into the conduct witnessed on the video in question, as well as an internal investigation to determine whether proper police department policies and protocols were followed. After the investigation has concluded, the City will take appropriate action as necessary,” says Newburgh Chief of Staff Mike Neppl.

Newburgh Police Community Review Board chairperson Cynthia Gilkeson says whatever happened, she believes it was excessive force.

“They were really revved up. They were just beating on him,” says Gilkeson. “We don’t know if he complied with orders or not but he didn’t deserve to be treated the way he was being treated.”

Gilkeson says the man involved has not filed a complaint with the police department and authorities have not said why they were called to the scene in the first place. It’s currently unknown if the man was charged with a crime or if the three officers involved remain on duty.

“I am aware of the video and I’m going to watch the body cam footage,” says Mayor Torrance Harvey. “This is going to an independent investigation. I was troubled by what I had seen but there is a more accurate depiction that comes from the cameras police are required to wear."

The primary officer involved was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Mike Neppl, City of Newburgh chief of staff.

News 12 reached out to the City of Newburgh Police Benevolent Association for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

So far, it’s not clear what outside agency is investigating.

Orange County District Attorney Dave Hoovler tells News 12 that his office is not involved.

The New York State Attorney’s Office says it is not investigating the incident at this time.