CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two Charleston police officers are on paid administrative leave as an investigation continues into a “use of force” complaint.
The officers were placed on leave Wednesday, a move approved by Police Chief Opie Smith.
The incident in question occurred during a Monday night arrest. A cellphone video taken by a bystander shows a person being restrained by a police on the street when a second officer arrives to assist. The video shows the second officer going to his knees and then throwing four punches with his right hand.
The Charleston Police Department’s Professional Standards Division is conducting an internal investigation to determine “if the force used was necessary and within the Department’s policy,” Smith said in a statement released Wednesday.
Smith also said the investigation would be put on the fast track and would take no longer than two weeks.
Smith has asked he community group RESET to review the incident. The group, which is made up of Charleston clergy and community advocates, is serving as liaison between the police department and the community and, according to Smith, will provide updates