ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – New footage was released on Wednesday showing what happened when an Ormond Beach officer threw a woman to the floor after she was arrested over a car crash, according to the police department.
In a release, police said that the crash happened on the night of Dec. 6, and officers determined that Shanna McRee, 46, had rear-ended a motorcycle.
“McRee showed clear signs of impairment during the investigation,” the release reads. “After conducting a field sobriety test, she was arrested on charges of driving under the influence.”
But after she was taken to the police department headquarters, first responders were called to take her to the hospital due to a head wound.
At the time, then-officer Jacob Cannon told first responders that he’d been trying to administer a breath test. However, McRee — who had been shouting obscenities and yelling at officers — tried to charge him, investigators said.
As a result, Cannon claimed that he’d grabbed her seat to sit her down, but she hit the chair and rolled onto the metal frame of the glass wall in the room, police added.
Detectives also said that Cannon reported she fell a second time when she slipped on blood in a holding cell.
However, the police department later revealed that Cannon had actually battered McRee during the breath test.
Footage released by the police department shows two officers unsuccessfully trying to get McRee to blow into the breathalyzer.
You can watch the full video of the encounter in the media player below. A word of warning, this video contains profanity and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Eventually, McRee can be seen standing up, despite the officers commanding her to sit back down. Cannon is then shown throwing her to the ground, with her head appearing to smack into the glass wall.
Afterward, McRee crumples to the ground, screaming. As the officers pick her up, apparent blood can be seen pooling on the floor.
McRee’s booking photo shows a large gash on her forehead. According to investigators, she ultimately needed seven stitches in her head.
After the incident came to light, police said that Cannon was relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave. Cannon was later charged with battery, though he submitted a resignation to the chief of police before surrendering himself at the county jail.
Aside from the felony charge, the police department also announced that Cannon had been found in violation of the following department policies:
- Violation of rules, regulations, directives or orders by act or omission
- Negligence; endangering others or property
- Abusiveness toward a citizen
- Damage of police department equipment
- Excessive use of force
- Untruthfulness; knowingly making untrue statements
- Conduct unbecoming of a member of the police department
- Commission of a felony
“Upon learning of the incident that evening, our department’s leadership acted swiftly and decisively. The officer involved was immediately relieved of duty and both a criminal and internal investigation were initiated.” Police Chief Jesse Godfrey said. “The actions of the former officer do not reflect the way we treat our citizens, and he is being held accountable for what he did.”
Meanwhile, McRee still faces charges of DUI with property damage, refusing to submit to testing, obstructing an officer without violence, and disorderly intoxication. Her next trial date is scheduled for July 21.