Norristown police officer on leave after video shows naked man being hit by police vehicle

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) — A Norristown police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after a patrol vehicle struck a naked man in the middle of a residential street Wednesday morning, according to Police Chief Michael Trail.

A cell phone video shows the patrol vehicle hitting the man and sending him into the air before he lands on the pavement.

“That video shocked my conscience,” Trail said.

Trail said officers detained the man, and he was taken to a hospital around 8:15 a.m.

The incident began roughly 10 minutes earlier, when police received calls about a man acting erratically near Stanbridge and West Airy streets. Witnesses reported seeing him screaming in the roadway.

“He was saying, ‘Wake up. Wake up,'” resident Don Bacon said.

Police said the man also vandalized a parked car, struck moving vehicles and blocked traffic before officers arrived.

But the officer’s response has raised concerns among some neighbors.

“The most disturbing thing I seen is when the cops finally came. There were like five cops out here already. They didn’t have to hit him,” resident Clifford Wilson said. “It was traumatizing. My daughter saw it. It was really traumatizing.”

Others believe the collision may not have been intentional.

“I think the officer was looking around, trying to figure out where he needed to go and accidentally struck the gentleman. I could be wrong,” Bacon said. “It’s a terrible thing. None of it should have happened.”

Trail said he does not yet know why the man was behaving erratically or what his current condition is following the incident.

Trail said county detectives are leading the investigation, and the police department will conduct its own review once that work is complete.

“One of the things that will take place is a full review of the department’s use of force policy and training to make sure we’re in the best practices and we’re compliant,” he said.

Trail urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has video from before or during the collision to contact county detectives. Footage from officers’ body-worn cameras will also be reviewed as part of the investigation.

Read the full statement by the department below:

“On the morning of Feb. 4, 2026, the Norristown Police Department responded to reports of a naked individual obstructing traffic at a signalized intersection around Stanbridge and West Airy streets in Norristown. The individual was observed standing in the roadway after vandalizing a parked vehicle, striking passing vehicles and creating a dangerous situation for motorists, pedestrians, and himself.

Officers responded to the area, and based on video accounts, one of the responding police units struck the male, knocking him to the ground. The subject was then detained by officers and medical attention was dispatched. The events depicted in this video are very concerning and a full investigation is underway. The officer operating the vehicle which struck the subject has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately.

The Norristown Police Department and the Municipality is committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that all interactions between law enforcement and the public meet professional and policy standards.

We recognize that this incident is concerning to our community. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of all residents, including individuals experiencing crises.

This matter has been turned over to the Montgomery County Detective Bureau for a use of force investigation. Out of dignity and respect for the subject, we ask the public to share the video with county detectives as part of their investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at 610-278-3368.”