A Niagara Regional Police officer is facing an assault charge, after a 31-year-old man was injured during an ‘interaction’ with police last month.

The Special Investigations Unit said police were called to a Niagara Falls restaurant in the early hours of May 19 for a noise complaint.

Photographer Michael Farkas was taking pictures of what was happening and then followed police out of the restaurant. According to the SIU, an interaction between Farkas and police took place, and Farkas was put in a jail cell overnight.

He was later diagnosed with a broken nose, orbital bone and cheekbone.

Constable Paul Zarafonitis has been charged with one count of Assault Causing Bodily Harm.