It stems from a violent encounter between a Passaic, N.J., cop and a mentally ill man.

The entire incident was recorded by a surveillance camera mounted outside a nearby restaurant on May 29 2009.

With a swollen eye and bruised ribs, Ronnie Holloway claimed to wonder what led to it all.

"I know I deserve better the way I was treated," Holloway said.

The way he was treated by Passaic Police was captured on surveillance camera at a restaurant.

Holloway, who has lived in the neighborhood near Lawrence’s for 25 years, said he was taking his nightly walk when a police cruiser stopped in front of him.

It was warm and Holloway had his sweat shirt unzipped and was bare-chested.
Holloway said the officers told him to zip his sweat shirt and that he was complying when Rios got out of the cruiser.

“That’s when he grabbed me with both hands at the collar area real physically hard and just flung me up against the police vehicle," Holloway said.

Holloway is then thrown to the ground and punched several times. Then the baton comes out, followed by swings to the ribs.

"I recall him saying, 'get down' as he swung, but he kept swinging like that," Holloway said.

Holloway is seen getting up and is pushed against the squad car again, then swung around, followed by two more baton swings to the legs.

Holloway was hauled away when back-up squads arrived and insists he never resisted or said a word to Passaic Police during the entire 90-second incident, but it's clear from the video that he was saying something.

"You don't recall saying anything, yelling anything, saying anything that was provocative?"

Holloway: "No."

Regardless of what may have been said, the family said it hardly justifies the physicality that followed.

"A lawsuit is likely," mother Betty Holloway said.

Holloway's mother also said her disabled son has schizophrenia.

"He's a good person," she said.

"Is it possible his schizophrenia may have done something to provoke police?"

Betty Holloway: "No, because he wasn't doing anything. He was standing."

Officer Joseph J. Rios III, who is a seven-year veteran, did not respond to a telephone message today about the incident.

Passaic Police Chief Daniel Paton declined to comment through White, the department spokesman.

No record of prior arrests for Holloway could be found in a search of court records today. Holloway denies he has a record.

Passaic Police said the incident is under investigation and won't answer any questions, including why the officer is still on active duty.

"I feel he should definitely lose his job because it's not fair to be treated that way," Ronnie Holloway said.