Police officer filmed pushing elderly cancer patient to the ground during George Floyd protest

A police officer who was filmed on live TV pushing an elderly cancer patient to the ground during a US protest is under investigation.

A US police officer who was filmed pushing an elderly cancer patient to the ground during a protest last month has been removed from patrol duties while an investigation takes place.

James Tobin, a 67-year-old leukaemia patient and veteran, was walking with a cane near a George Floyd protest in Salt Lake City, Utah, when he was knocked over by the officer in riot gear.

In the footage, captured in a live ABC4 News broadcast, Mr Tobin is then helped from the ground by another officer. He told ABC4 he was there to take pictures of the protest.

James Tobin was knocked over. Picture: ABC4

Mr Tobin was filmed still on the ground. Picture: ABC4

Police officers can be seen moving Mr Tobin. Picture: ABC4

The elderly man was walking with a cane. Picture: ABC4

“I thought they were just coming down the street and all of a sudden they came charging at me,” he said. “He came charging at me with the shield saying, ‘Get back, get back, get back.’”

Mr Tobin said bystanders helped bandage up cuts on his arms. ABC4 reports an internal investigation is now under way. Mr Tobin said the city’s chief of police Mike Brown called him the next day to apologise.

“He said that’s not the way police are supposed to act, and he was going to look into it with internal affairs and the review board, and take action,” he said. “I told him whatever you’re going to do is fine with me.”