ANDERSON, Indiana — An Anderson police officer has been suspended without pay for an aggressive arrest that was captured on video.
Ofc. Brandon Reynolds was suspended Wednesday by the Anderson Board of Public Safety, our partners at the Herald Bulletin reported. Reynolds was seen on video allegedly administering a chokehold on 21-year-old Spencer Nice during an arrest in June. Chokeholds had already been banned by the Anderson Police Department in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May.
Nice was on a walk with his family when Reynolds and Officer Ashley Gravely approached them about a noise complaint. As Nice was being taken into custody by Reynolds, the officer appeared to grab him around the neck and throw him to the ground.
Gravely did not try to stop the maneuver, but was seen holding onto Nice's hand as he was taken down.
The Anderson Fraternal Order of Police alleges the maneuver wasn't a chokehold and that Reynolds never violated police procedures.
"Experts will show it was a takedown maneuver," said FOP President Mike Anderson told the Herald Bulletin.
Anderson Police Chief Jake Brown outlined the allegations against Reynolds during an executive session of the safety board. Anderson said the disciplinary charges against the officer were not disclosed.
Reynolds' suspension came on the same day the police department requested felony charges against Nice for a hit-and-skip accident, Anderson said. He said Nice was a suspect in that crash at the time of his arrest.
According to the newspaper, both officers were placed on administrative leave June 13. An internal investigation on Gravely's conduct during the arrest determined the allegations were not sustained, and she will return to active duty.
Reynolds will have another hearing Aug. 17.