An upstate New York police officer has been placed on administrative leave after he was caught on camera punching a woman in the throat while detaining her over the Fourth of July weekend for allegedly pepper-spraying other customers
The DeWitt Police Department released a video with spokesman Lt. Jerry Pace announcing that an officer has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation into the use of force altercation is conducted.
Officer Rory Spain was identified from video footage from the incident that occurred at a Walmart in East Syracuse on July 4, 2021. He is accused of punching Tyreana Edmonds in the throat when she allegedly attempted to bite him as he tried to detain her.
According to Lt. Pace, employees were threatened and struck in the face and customers, including children, were pepper-sprayed by two women.
The two women have been identified as Edmonds and her sister, Tajenik Byrd.
In a 15-minute video posted on Thursday, the DeWitt Police Department shared footage from multiple body cameras, bystander’s cell phones, and store video surveillance.
