By Police1 Staff
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A cell phone video capturing an Illinois officer involved in a violent struggle with a suspect has gone viral.
According to the News-Gazette, Officer Cully Schweska was called to the scene after being told a woman with an active warrant was spotted at a gas station.
When Officer Schweska arrived, he attempted to detain the woman in order to verify the validity of the report.
It was then that the suspect at the center of the video, 37-year-old Charles Grindley, intervened. After repeated directives by Officer Schweska to cease interference with the investigation, Grindley swung at the officer.
Champaign police spokeswoman Rene Dunn described the incident, “Both became entangled in a physical altercation, part of which was captured on the Internet video. During the altercation, Grindley continued to resist the officers even after (pepper) spray was deployed.”
Both Grindley and Officer Schweska suffered facial injuries and were treated at a hospital, according to the report.
Grindley was charged with aggrevated battery to a police officer. The woman, Ashley Johnson, fled the scene and was later found and charged with resisting a peace officer.