A Paris Police Officer at the center of “use of force” investigation after a partial video of the arrest emerged online has been cleared of any wrongdoing and received an apology from the man arrested.
Jackie Vanderburg told investigators that he did not want to file any complaint and that the officer only did what an officer should have done.
The Paris Police Department began the investigation of a use of force incident involving an arrest made by Officer Jeff Padier after a bystander posted a video to social media on June 8.
“The video recording begins near the end of the encounter between Ofc. Padier and the arrestee, and does not contain the initial contact of the officer with the arrestee,” said Chief Hundley.
The Department’s investigation was centered on the video posted on social media, as well as, Officer Padier’s report and an interview with the arrested person.
“I initiated the investigation, and no formal complaint against the officer was filed.”
Hundley said based on the review of the materials, the Department has determined that the facts surrounding the arrest are as follows:
The arrested person was seen by Officer Padier to be crossing the street in the 100 block of Pine Bluff nearly being struck by a vehicle.
The officer hurriedly exited the patrol car to make contact with the person who then threw a bag of synthetic marijuana on the ground.
The officer attempted to arrest the person who resisted and broke free of the officer.
The person was taken to the ground and Padier pointed his department issued taser at the suspect and told him to stop resisting.
The suspect then stopped resisting, was handcuffed and picked up off the roadway and placed into the patrol car in a very short amount of time.
The posted video shows the officer picking his body camera and other items that were knocked off during the scuffle.
Hundley further stated that the arrested person, Jackie Vanderburg was interviewed and he told the investigator that he did not want to file any complaint and that the officer only did what an officer should have done.
“Vanderburg did suffer a small skin abrasion to his ankle, but he told the investigator that he was offered treatment for the abrasion at the time of arrest and did not want treatment.”
Vanderburg also stated he did not wish to file any complaint on the officer and would like to apologize for his actions to the officer.
“Our investigation of the use of force concludes with a finding of ‘exonerated’. All Officer Padier’s actions regarding the use of force were well within department policy guidelines. The fact that the officer did not get his body camera on before contact is outside of procedure and will be addressed with the officer.”
