The arrest of 45-year-old Rahiem Kubisty in Fort Wayne on Sept. 19 was captured in a bystander's video that has drawn widespread attention online. The footage appears to show multiple officers restraining Kubisty while he says he "can't breathe," and an officer telling a witness to "disappear."
The Fort Wayne Police Department says it is reviewing the incident; two officers have been placed on restrictive duty. Kubisty was taken to Allen County Jail and faces preliminary charges.
A bystander’s video from Fort Wayne, Indiana, captured a forceful arrest on Sept. 19 that has drawn widespread attention after officers are seen restraining a man who repeatedly says he "can't breathe" while at least one officer appears to warn a witness to "disappear." The clip, posted on X by @SeeRacists, has been widely shared online.
The recording, which has surpassed 102,200 views, shows roughly eight officers on the 300 block of Butler Road with red and blue lights flashing as they restrain a man lying on the pavement. Local reporting identified the suspect as 45-year-old Rahiem Kubisty.
According to WANE 15 and police accounts, the encounter began around 12:30 a.m. after officers attempted to stop an SUV that had allegedly flashed its headlights and then fled. Police say the SUV rolled backward and struck a police cruiser, and the driver ran from the vehicle at Dewald and Barr Street. The stop escalated into a short foot pursuit and a struggle involving multiple officers.
In the footage, several officers try to handcuff Kubisty as he lies on the ground. One officer appears to strike him multiple times in the face, while Kubisty can be heard repeatedly saying he "can't breathe." The same officer is heard responding to the suspect with profanity, and later telling the bystander filming, "If you don't want to get involved, you might want to f****** disappear. You heard what I said."
As additional officers arrive, Kubisty asks for medical assistance; an officer in the video dismisses the request with a profanity-laced remark. Other audible comments in the clip include an officer taunting the suspect about fleeing—"You ran from us. For what? For what? 'Cause you're a little b****?"—and another saying, "You're lucky you didn't get more."
Civil liberties groups note that bystanders generally have the right to record police activity in public. The American Civil Liberties Union has emphasized that civilian video can serve as a tool for accountability and clarification when official accounts differ.
The Fort Wayne Police Department issued a statement saying it is reviewing the incident, gathering available video and determining the facts, while acknowledging community concerns and cautioning that a single clip may not show the full context. Police Chief P.J. Smith told reporters, as cited by Atlanta Black Star, that two officers have been placed on "restrictive duty" and reassigned to clerical tasks pending the review. Chief Smith also confirmed that bystanders have the right to film police encounters.
Authorities reported that three officers sustained minor injuries during the incident. Kubisty was evaluated by medical personnel at the scene before being booked into the Allen County Jail. He faces preliminary charges that reportedly include three counts of resisting law enforcement, habitual traffic violation, and leaving the scene of a property-damage crash.
The video prompted strong reactions on social media, with critics questioning the level of force used, the officer’s threat toward the witness, and whether so many officers were necessary to detain a single suspect. The department's internal review will determine whether disciplinary or criminal actions are warranted based on a full review of all available evidence.
Help us improve.
