Suspect allegedly spit on Montgomery County officer who dropped him, court documents say

ASPEN HILL, Md. (FOX 5 DC) -- A Montgomery County police officer who is under investigation for driving his knee into the head of a handcuffed suspect who was on the ground says the teenager spit on him, according to court documents.

Kevin Moris of the 4th District Special Assignment Team has been suspended - but he has not been charged.

Video recorded outside of a McDonald's location in Aspen Hill shows an officer identified as Moris, and several other officers, surrounding 19-year-old Arnaldo Pesoa of Silver Spring, who they were investigating for selling mushrooms. Pesoa is handcuffed and lying face-down in the video.

During the incident, Moris can be seen driving his knee into the back of Pesoa's head and into the concrete sidewalk.

According to court documents, an undercover officer had made contact with Pesoa over Snapchat and agreed to meet him for a drug deal.

The affidavit says Pesoa was looking to sell the hallucinogenic mushrooms for $120.

But when the officers met up with the teen, he reportedly resisted arrest, spitting saliva and blood on Moris' shoe and ankle.

Police say they put Pesoa on the ground in order to "minimize officers' exposure to Pesoa's bodily fluids."

In addition to kneeing Pesoa in the back of the head in the video, Moris also appears to pull his shirt up over his face and grab him by the hair.

Montgomery County Council Member Will Jawando says the case requires more scrutiny.

"We need to see the body worn camera footage from the officers--this video was kind of farther away we need that full context but it is alarming and it's a good thing the department has referred it to internal affairs and to the State's Attorney for review," he said.