This is the dramatic moment British Transport Police officers drag an irate shirtless passenger off a train in handcuffs after it's claimed that he refused to wear a face mask on board:
The man was filmed being asked to get off the train at Lime Street Station in Liverpool but he refused to get out of his seat - claiming he was legally exempt from wearing a mask on public transport.
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A lone officer struggled to detain him for several minutes which resulted in him being pepper sprayed.
Supporters travelling with the man accused the officer of being on a 'power trip' and called him a 'bully'.
They claimed he had an 'underlying medical condition' which exempted him from having to wear a face covering under Covid-19 legislation.
Shocking video of the incident - posted anonymously on social media yesterday (Thurs) - has been viewed more than 1 million times.
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The passenger shakes his head and says: "You're not allowed to touch me by law. I do not have to wear a mask, end of, and you do not have to challenge me. It's against the law to challenge me."
The officer gives the man his final warning - which is ignored - and tells him: "You're getting off."
He takes hold of the passenger's arm but he resists and shouts: "Yo, who the f**k do you think you're grabbing?"
The officer tries to remove him by force but the man refuses to budge and blasts: "I've told you no. Now get off me." To which the officer replies: "Off the train, or I'll get you locked up."
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He wrestles with the officer - who threatens to pepper spray him - as fellow passengers protest: "He's done nothing wrong. Medical condition."
The officer then attempts to spray the passenger - who shields his face - but is unable to get a clear shot and urgently calls for backup on his radio.
The officer cuffs one of the suspect's wrists and pepper sprays him. In the ensuing struggle, the man's shirt comes off.
When backup finally arrives, several officers are seen struggling to get the man in handcuffs, as he screams: "This is the reason why I don't wear my mask."
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He is finally subdued and led off the train, as other passengers - furious at his removal - demand to know the name of the arresting officer.
In a statement, British Transport Police said: "A man has been charged with threatening behaviour and assaulting a police officer on a Merseyrail train to Liverpool Lime Street station. The incident happened at around 3.20pm on Wednesday, September 2. Officers had responded to a report of a man coughing at two passengers.
"Anthony Baldwin, 34, of Hawthorn Road, Little Sutton, will appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, January 6, 2021."