Amsterdam Police Use of Force Under Fire | Albany News

A 21-year-old man, Hiram J. Reyes, is at the center of a fiery civil rights controversy after being tackled and pepper-sprayed by Amsterdam police while already restrained — an incident captured on video and now under review by the state attorney general. Reyes claims he was simply walking away after an argument and refused to comply with what he saw as an unwarranted arrest, while police say they were responding to an alleged assault and that their force was justified. The complaint alleges excessive use of force, with Reyes sustaining neck marks and bruises. Police Chief Spencer defends the officers’ actions, citing Reyes’ agitation and refusal to cooperate. Reyes plans to pursue legal action against the department, and his court date is set for August 18th — as public outcry grows over whether justice will be served. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6a017481273e1fb2