UTICA, N.Y. -- A large fire that displaced four people in Utica is getting some extra attention for what happened on the other side of the caution tape.

A property owner said he was disrespectfully pushed by a Utica police officer to prevent him from crossing the tape.

A WKTV camera shot video of a member of the fire department yelling for the man to get back. Moments later, a Utica police officer joins the group and apparently pushes the man to the ground.

The property owner said he crossed the yellow tape because his car repair business had caught on fire and collapsed, and he knew his dog was inside.

"I had not [seen] him before and [he pushed] me to the ground. I don't know why," said property owner Hasica Pajazteovic.

In a statement, the Utica Police Department stated, "It is important for the public to remember that in addition to what is captured on video, several other factors need to be considered, such as what occurred prior to what is captured on video as well as an individual's emotional status, response to commands, and the responsibility of our officers to maintain the integrity of a potential crime scene and to keep everyone involved safe."