Toronto police have been asked to lead an independent investigation into a violent altercation caught on camera at a downtown subway station earlier this year.

Transit officials will conduct an investigation, but police have been asked to review the events independently too, Toronto Transit Commission CEO Andy Byford told a news conference Wednesday.

Byford’s request comes after a video posted on YouTube and Facebook appears to show transit enforcement officers involved in a violent confrontation at a subway station.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the TTC said the altercation took place at Union Station on the evening of Jan. 29 following a Toronto Maple Leafs game at the Air Canada Centre.

The video begins with an altercation between two men and transit officers, but it is not clear what sparked the incident. In the video, two officers can be seen punching one of the men in the face and the other in the ribs before another employee stepped in to separate the officers from the men.

"I didn't do anything. I paid my (transit) fare. I didn't do anything," one of the men can be heard saying.

Byford said the altercation was not prompted by a fare dispute, but the reason for the fight is unknown.

“There needs to be a holistic review of exactly what happened, from start to finish, (so) that the context is understood,” he added.

TTC spokesperson Brad Ross told reporters the police review will aim to determine whether the use of force “was appropriate.”

Byford said the two men were subsequently arrested and charged.

Police identified them as Jamie Gillman, 33, who is charged with two counts of assault and one count of uttering death threats. Russell Gillman, 63, who is charged with one count of assault and one count of uttering death threats.

Typically, police investigations are only launched when formal complaints are made against transit officers.

"No complaint was made against the transit enforcement officers at the time, and that remains the case today," Byford said.

However, Byford said the incident will be investigated, despite the lack of formal complaint, because of the "understandable concern" prompted by the video. A lawyer for one of the accused later said his client will file a formal complaint.

Byford said closed circuit television footage had also been obtained as part of the investigation.

Byford said he notified both the Toronto Police Professional Standards Unit and the City of Toronto ombudsman of the incident.

Max Axmith, president of CUPE 5089, the union representing TTC transit enforcement officers, issued a statement Wednesday urging the public to “let an investigation run its course before making any judgements.”

“The facts will come out through the police investigation," he added.

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Natalie Johnson

Do you know the men in the video? Contact CTV Toronto at torontodesk@ctv.ca or call 416-384-7100.