Footage has captured an off-duty police officer pinning a black teenager to the ground with his knee on his back.
In the video, which occurred in Park Ridge, Illinois, US, a man can be seen kneeling on a teenage boy surrounded by his friends.
He claims the 14-year-old stole his son’s bicycle, while the boy’s friends intervene to separate them and beg him to get off.
The man identified himself to responding Park Ridge Police officers as an off-duty Chicago officer.
The boy's parents say their son was moving the other boy's bike because it was blocking the pavement, and that he had his own bike with him.
They believe the officer singled out their son, described as a "straight-A student" and "three-sport athlete who is active in his church youth ministry" because he is Puerto Rican, while his friends are white.
Parents Angel and Nicole Nieves said in a statement that the man was supposed to protect their son - not harm him.
They said: "We see the bias in an off-duty officer taking advantage of our brown boy, with afro hair, smaller in stature, choosing to take the law into his own hands with physical force a clear abuse of his position of authority.
"It is the authority meant to protect my son, not harm him."
Family attorney Antonio M. Romanucci, of Romanucci & Blandin, said: "This was clearly an unlawful restraint with the officer [using] his training to detain a young man without probable cause.
"We are calling for full accountability and investigation into this incident and release of officer's history with CPD."
The Park Ridge Police said in a statement this week that they are continuing to seek videos and eyewitnesses in their investigation of the incident.
The department said it intends to meet with the State's Attorney this week to review the investigation.
The Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability is currently investigating.
