The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A Louisville Metro Police officer was reprimanded for cursing at a suspect but an internal police investigation found he did not use excessive force when he pepper-sprayed him and held him in a headlock for more than four minutes.
Officer Harry Cambron’s conduct was captured on a camera mounted in his police cruiser.
Police Chief Robert White ordered an investigation after Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Stengel and Circuit Judge Judith McDonald-Burkman both said they were “disturbed” by the officer’s conduct.
The videotape showed Cambron wrestling suspect Marshall Galloway to the hood of his cruiser, pepper-spraying Galloway in the face several times and putting him into a headlock for more than four minutes - including about three minutes after Officer Russell Miller had handcuffed Galloway and held his legs.
The arrest happened Nov. 30, 2003, during a traffic stop.
Cambron was also ordered to undergo counseling and additional training on arrest techniques.
White said Wednesday that while Cambron could have handled the arrest better, the officer had to use force to maintain control because Galloway was resisting.
“Given what he was confronted with, I didn’t find the amount of force to be excessive,” White said. “At the same time, his techniques I question a little bit. While he was not excessive, I thought he could use a little training.”
The arrest prompted demonstrations by civil-rights activists.
“That’s a total disgrace, and it just goes to show you that there is a need for a civilian review board,” the Rev. Louis Coleman said. “The police review process ought to be ashamed of itself.”
Neither Galloway nor his attorney could be reached last night.
His sister, Alisa Galloway, said there was no need for police to continue choking her brother after he had been handcuffed.
“I don’t understand why that was necessary,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair. (Cambron) wouldn’t want anybody to do that to him.”
In August, Galloway filed a federal lawsuit against Cambron, claiming the officer used excessive and deliberate “painful force.”