Strong reactions have been sparked in New York by video footage of two police officers violently attacking a man they thought was suspected of being involved in a drug deal, but it turned out he had nothing to do with the case.

In the video, recorded inside a convenience store, NYPD officers can be seen punching 46-year-old Timothy Brown and stomping on his head.

Describing what happened, Brown said he was at a convenience store to buy wine when officers suddenly confronted him. “They said, ‘You’re under arrest.’ I remember they grabbed me, pushed me, and told me, ‘Don’t resist.’ I said, ‘I’m not resisting.’ They slammed me into the glass, hitting me repeatedly on my temple and head. A lot of bottles were broken in the store because they shook me and dragged me across the floor, over the glass—you can see that on camera.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish described the video as “deeply troubling” and said the Bureau of Internal Affairs is investigating the incident. She also announced that the two officers involved have been suspended.

“The violence used by NYPD officers in this video is extremely disturbing and unacceptable. Police officers should never treat a person in this manner,” New York City Mayor Zochran Mamdani said.

Police said the incident at the convenience store followed an anti-narcotics operation. During the operation, an undercover officer allegedly purchased crack cocaine, with the money being passed to another man described as a Black male wearing a white shirt and green shorts—similar to what Brown was wearing.

Although Brown was initially arrested for resisting arrest, the charges were later dropped after it was determined that he had no involvement in the suspected drug transaction.

He told CBS he is grateful to have survived the encounter: “I just thank God that I’m alive. That’s all I can say. I believe there’s a reason for everything, and I know God is watching. I want justice.”