A video posted online showing what some are calling excessive force has prompted a Lakeland Police Department investigation. 

• Video of violent arrest prompts Lakeland police investigation
• Three officers arrested Justin Abbott, 38, who was sleeping under overpass
• At one point, officers appear to kick Abbott

The internal investigation is looking into an  incident that happened Tuesday afternoon under the overpass at Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 98. 

Police said 38-year-old Justin Abbott fell asleep under the overpass and when officers tried waking him up to get him to leave, a violent struggle followed.

And a passerby caught the struggle on cell phone video. 

The video clip lasts about 30 seconds. It was shot from far distance away and through a rainy windshield. 

In the video, you can see three police officers striking and trying to restrain Abbott. At one point, one of the officers appears to kick Abbott while he was on the ground. 

The video - posted within seconds on social media claiming police brutality - almost instantly got the attention of local media.

Lakeland police, internal affairs and the police chief all reviewed the video and took accounts from the officers involved and then released a statement late Tuesday night to get ahead of the social media backlash.

Police say Abbott had fallen asleep under the overpass, and officers J.R. West and De'Angelo Anthony were attempting to get Abbott to leave.

He refused and officers then tried arresting him, police said.

Abbott started fighting the officers, they said, at one point pushing two of them to the ground and injuring them.

Police shot Abbott with a Taser which wasn’t effective and then they say Abbott was grabbing for a second officers Taser, when one of the officers kicked his arm away.

Eventually Abbott was restrained and was taken to the hospital to get checked out. Then he was booked in to jail on charges of trespass and resisting arrest with violence.

Lakeland police said the investigation into the officers conduct is still ongoing - and in the coming days a full report will be issued.