Besides, who "tussles" with a cop anyway? That's evidence right there!
Someone who wants to get away from him especially when he has you by the neck.
That's evidence right there!
Actually the police can verify that if they did a modicum of labwork. They should have taken scrapings from the fingernails of the officer's left hand and the kid's neck.
If they didn't they were neglectful in their duties.