A probe found that Officer Rory Spain (pictured) of the Dewitt Police Department was justified in his use of force when he punched Tyrena Edmonds in the throat July 4
A white cop in Upstate New York was cleared of wrongdoing after he was filmed punching a black woman in the throat at an East Syracuse Walmart earlier this month.
An internal probe found that officer Rory Spain of the Dewitt Police Department was justified in his use of force when he punched Tyrena Edmonds and knocked her to the floor July 4, according to a News 10 report.
Dewitt PD held a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce the probe’s findings.
Spain, who has been on the force since 2018, was initially placed on administrative leave following the incident. He is set to return to the force next week, but must complete training to review the incident.
Tyrena Edmonds (pictured center) allegedly attempted to bite Spain just prior to the knockout blow, which floored the woman
Spain unloaded a brutal punch on Edmonds’ throat amidst the squabble
Pictured is one of the suspects Tajenik Byrd, 22, who is accused of using pepper spray on other shoppers prior to police arriving to the scene
The probe found that Edmonds bit Spain more than once prior to Spain punching her in the throat, a move which is a part of officers’ training, according to the Dewitt Police Department.
Spain and several other officers had arrived at the Walmart around 5 p.m. upon receiving a call of a fight between five or six people, with pepper spray involved.
According to Lt. Jerry Pace, employees were threatened and struck in the face, and customers, including children, were pepper-sprayed by two women identified as Edmonds and her sister, Tajenik Byrd, 22.
Video from Spain’s bodycam, of which authorities released 15 minutes on July 8, shows Spain as he enters the Walmart. He heads straight toward Edmunds, 26, who was flanked by several young children at the time.
Pace said that store surveillance captured the initial altercation, and body camera and bystander footage shows the officers struggling to handcuff the women.
Officer Corey Buyck uses his body weight to hold Byrd down on the floor as he puts handcuffs on her. In the footage, her sister is heard telling the officers Byrd is a month pregnant and was ‘jumped.’
As the officers struggle to drag the women out of the store, video shows Spain punching Edmonds in the throat after she apparently tries to bite his arm.
News Channel 9’s Josh Martin tweeted that Dewitt PD determined that Spain was justified for his use of force, after he ‘defended (him)self (with) a right to act’ following being bitten by Edmunds.
Dewitt PD held a presentation on Thursday afternoon (pictured) to reveal the probe’s findings
Officer Corey Buyck (pictured center) takes Byrd to the ground using his body weight to hold her down as he places handcuffs on her, as Edmunds yells at the officers that Byrd is pregnant
The probe found that Spain ‘defended (him)self (with) a right to act’ following being bitten by Edmunds
Meanwhile, the police department stated it is entertaining the idea of creating a policy to investigate all ‘use of force’ incidents, including bodycam footage, as well as adding training, according to News 10.
Edmonds was charged with second-degree attempted assault of a police officer, fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree harassment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of governmental administration, Mail Online reported earlier this month.
Byrd was charged with third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a noxious material, resisting arrest, and obstruction of governmental administration.
They were both released later on desk appearance tickets.
About 25 people protested on July 9 outside of the DeWitt Police Department. Hasahn Bloodworth, leader of area police reform activist group Rebirth SYR, organized the gathering just days after the incident in the DeWitt Police Department’s parking lot to hold the department accountable, according to NewsOnyx.