Man's Arm Broken During Struggle With Baltimore City Police

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A man is severely injured after an encounter with Baltimore City police. He's accused of assaulting two police officers inside a club at Power Plant Live.

Now police launch an investigation, as his family speaks out.

Meghan McCorkell has more from both sides.

Aaron Winston underwent surgery after his arm was broken in multiple places during a struggle with city police.

Aaron Winston, 24, works as a longshoreman at the Port of Baltimore, but his family says an encounter with Baltimore City police left him with a broken arm.

"He is a good son. And this... I am just devastated that this has happened to my son," said Renee Winston, mother.

The altercation happened inside the Power Plant Live complex around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Security called police for help with a dispute inside the Mosaic nightclub.

Family members say Winston was at Power Plant on Saturday night celebrating a birthday party.

Investigators say when he saw his friend being escorted out by police, Winston physically pulled an officer, yelling: "Stop, that's my brother. Why are you kicking him out?"

"Our police officers describe Mr. Winston as disorderly and interfering with the escort of the patron out of the nightclub," said Commissioner Kevin Davis, Baltimore City Police Department.

When another officer confronted Winston, he claims he "spun around quickly and pushed me back."

That's when the officer says he pushed Winston and the two fell to the floor.

But Winston's attorney says that story isn't true.

"He was not combative. My client was grabbed by the throat, he was thrown against the bar and then thrown down to the floor and then his arm was basically popped from the socket," said J. Wyndal Gordon, defense attorney.

Police are now trying to get both surveillance footage from the club and any cell phone video taken of the incident.

"It's clear to all of us that we need to find out what happened," Commissioner Davis said.

"I will not stop until justice has come to this situation," said Winston's mother.

As questions about how this happened remain unanswered.

The incident occurred early Sunday morning. Winston wasn't charged until Tuesday.

The police special investigation response team is leading the use-of-force investigation.