A campus police officer accused of using excessive force after he was filmed pressing his arm into a Purdue University student’s neck and face has been placed on administrative leave, officials confirmed Thursday.
Footage of the February 4 incident, which can be seen here, appears to show a police officer pinning a student, Adonis Tuggle, to the snowy ground went viral on social media.
The student and his girlfriend can be heard repeatedly asking the officer to remove his forearm from Tuggle’s neck and face, and to stop “choking” the student.
Purdue University said in a press release that the officer responded to a call on February 4 after a bystander reported a suspected assault on a woman taking place.
The leave of absence was initiated by the Purdue University Police Department’s Chief John Cox after the officer and department received death threats, the university said, noting that the department is continuing to probe the incident.
Purdue University President Mitch Daniels said Thursday that police are internally reviewing witness interviews and all video evidence, including body-worn and in-car camera footage.
The Indiana State Police will also be conducting an independent review of the PUPD investigation and video evidence, Daniels said, noting that appropriate action will be taken “promptly” should there be a finding of misconduct by the officer.
“There are no subjects Purdue takes more seriously than campus safety, student well-being, and proper police conduct,” Daniels said. “On Friday evening, Feb. 4, police received a bystander report of a suspected assault on a woman, prompting an officer’s urgent response.”
Cox said in a statement Wednesday that police received a call during which “it appeared a woman was being held against her will near Horticulture Drive.”
“No physical injuries were suffered in the incident,” Cox added.
Tuggle is a student in the Indiana university’s College of Health and Human Sciences, according to local news outlet WBIW.
In an Instagram post, he said officer Jon Selke “punched me repeatedly, elbowed me in the face, smothered my face into the snow, and choked me with his elbow while having me pinned to the ground the entire time.”
He added, “Help me get justice and hold this man accountable.”
Purdue Police Capt. Song Kang said Tuggle refused to cooperate with the officer’s lawful requests, when pressed on Selke’s restraining techniques, the Journal & Courier reported.
Michael Hickey/Getty Images
According to Purdue University’s website, Selke is one of six night shift reporting staff officers.
Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented the family of George Floyd after he was killed by former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, decried Selke’s actions.
“Ofc. Jon Selke repeatedly pushed his elbow into Adonis Tuggle’s throat for “resisting,” choking him! An internal investigation suggested no officer wrongdoing, but we can all CLEARLY see the brutality! Ofc. Selke MUST be held accountable!” he said on Twitter.
Newsweek has reached out to Selke for comment.
Adonis Tuggle/Instagram/ @cozy_tuggle
