Vancouver's police force will investigate an arrest by police in Victoria, B.C., Victoria police chief Jamie Graham told a news conference this afternoon.

His announcement was in response to a YouTube video allegedly showing officers using excessive force.

The video was shot early Sunday morning in downtown Victoria as a passerby watched two Victoria police officers subdue two men outside a bar.

Graham said that two of his officers were trying to stop a fight outside a bar when they were caught on video kicking two suspects.

The incident can be seen in a 56-second YouTube clip that shows both suspects on the ground or complying with police orders to get on the ground.

Graham says the officers were trying to break up a fight in which a man was being kicked in the head.

He downplayed suggestions his officers were unnecessarily aggressive.

"I know many officers that have looked at [the video] and they're not shocked at all, This is use of force, This is what we're trained to do," Graham said.

He says the key question to be answered is whether the force used by the officers was excessive, and that will be determined by an internal investigation that is being overseen by the B.C. Police Complaints Commission.

Graham promised that if Vancouver police deem the use of force excessive the officer will be held accountable, but he also criticized what he termed an atmosphere of "drunkenness, debauchery and silliness" that police encounter patrolling Victoria's nightclub district.

Harpinder Kang, one of the men who claims to be shown in the YouTube video, claims he was kicked as he complied with orders to lie on the ground.

"I did nothing wrong. I'm not a criminal," Kang told CTV News.

He said that he had just arrived at the Victoria nightclub with his girlfriend when he saw a fight underway.

"Some guy -- actually a large guy -- had pushed or gotten in some sort of situation with my girlfriend. I had just asked him ‘what's going on, what's the problem?'" Kang said.

He said he walked away from the brawl, but was pepper-sprayed by police.

"I was already on the ground. I was lying on the ground," Kang said.

He claims he was being held by two officers when a third one arrived. "He came and he kicked me," Kang said.

For his part, Mike Morellato, the passerby who shot the video and posted it on YouTube, said he was pleased that the members of the public have had a chance to weigh in on the arrest.

"I don't want to be judge and jury on it, but it seemed excessive for the task at hand," Morellato told CTV News.

"It's definitely worth a review, if nothing else. I'm glad it's come to light and that people are voicing their opinions on it."

This is just the latest in a string of excessive force complaints against Victoria police.

In 2004, college student Thomas McKay suffered permanent brain damage after being thrown to the floor in the police lock-up.

An adjudicator ruled the actions of Const. Greg Smith in that case violated the B.C. Police Act code of conduct and his training, and recommended a three-day suspension.

Two years ago, 15-year-old Willow Kinloch was left tethered in a cell for hours.

She sued and reached an out-of-court settlement with police last year.

And just this month, a pair of Victoria officers was charged with assault relating to yet another excessive force complaint.

However, Graham denied Wednesday that excessive force is an inherent problem in his department.

"I have to judge each case by its own. If I thought there was some systemic issue then I would deal with it instantly," Graham said.

With files from The Canadian Press and a report from CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber