Webster police defend arrest of teen, release body camera footage

Local News

As the teen resisted arrest, the officers tased him twice, wrestled him to the ground, and punched him multiple times.

A small Worcester County police department is defending the actions of its officers after a chaotic video circulated on social media showing officers wrestling and punching a teenager during an arrest.

“I will admit, the video does not look pretty. However, anytime officers have to use force, it never does,” the Webster Police Department said on Facebook. “The viewer has no idea the circumstances that led up to this interaction, what the officers’ perception of the situation was, and why they responded the way they did.”

Webster police responded to reports of three juveniles taking what appeared to be rifles out of a backpack near Park Street and Myrtle Avenue around 5:39 p.m. Saturday night, the department said. Police note that “it was later discovered that both males were juveniles.”

Officers were unable to locate the teens, but it was reported shortly after that three juveniles had “just shot out a car window, and there was an altercation involving them on Wall Street,” the Facebook post said. Officers were advised “there was a possible firearm involved by one of the persons on scene.”

“This very clearly heightens the need for officer safety,” the department said.

Japhet Villanueva, 17, spoke to WHDH after the forceful arrest and identified himself as the teen in video. In the interview, he can be seen with a broken nose, missing teeth, and bruises. He claims he only lightly pushed the officer to protect himself.

“There was no reason for me to be beaten to that level where I can’t even talk correctly,” Villanueva told the news station. “It’s just crazy that like, I’m almost being seen as some kind of bad person as if I was trying to beat up a cop or just something stupid like that, when in reality all I was trying to do was protect myself.”

Video shows violent encounter with teen, Webster police

In body camera footage from Sergeant Derek Mroczek that was released by Webster police, the officer approaches two of the teens fighting, or what appears to be one holding back Villanueva, who is shirtless. Mroczek seems to pull the boys away, and Officer Alex Johnson tries to push Villanueva down with his arm. The department claims the teen’s hands were “in the area of” Johnson’s firearm “as they struggle.”

“Get on the f—ing ground,” Johnson said.

“Do not shoot him!” his friend yelled repeatedly at the officers. The department said this statement “would lead officers to believe that there may be a firearm present on the scene.”

The video then shows Sergeant Robert Larochelle ran at Villanueva, put his arms around his stomach, and pulled him to the ground. The teen continued to fight the officers while on the ground. Mroczek asked if he should tase the boy, and one of the other officers responded “yes, f—ing tase him.”

The officers punched Villanueva multiple times in the face saying “get down.” After the taser makes contact with his back, the teen, who was on his side on the ground while being punched and held by officers, said “I can’t, I’m down.” Mroczek notes the teen is bleeding on his back.

“Get on your f—-ing stomach right now,” one of the officers said, seemingly correcting himself. As the boy was still on his side and not fully restrained, Johnson kneed his upper chest and punched his face repeatedly, the department said.

“I’m going. I’m going,” the teen yelled when Mroczek deploys the taser again against his back. The department said the taser “was deployed, but had no effect.” 

When Villanueva was on his stomach, officers still appeared to be subduing him as they struggled to get his arms behind his back. “I can’t move,” the teen said. 

“Hands behind your back. If you get up, you’re going to get f—ed up, do you understand?” an officer said.

“Yes, sir,” the teen said. “I didn’t do nothing, bro,” he added after some silence. He asked what he was being arrested for, and one of the officers said assault and battery on a police officer.

“F— off, you’re under arrest,” one of the officers said in the video before saying the allegations.

“You’re under arrest too, a—hole,” one officer said to the teen’s friend, who said he didn’t see Villanueva touch the officers.

“It’s on our bodycams, so shut the f— up,” Mroczek said.

Two BB guns were found about 50 feet away, the department said, which were allegedly connected to the window shooting on Myrtle Street.

Johnson, repeatedly punching the teen in the face, suffered a broken hand “and will be out of work for the foreseeable future,” the department said. Larochelle also had minor injuries.

Webster police did not immediately respond to a request Tuesday night to confirm whether either of the two teens are facing charges.