Sandy MaloneWest Lafayette, IN – An investigation has been launched after a Purdue University student accused a campus police officer of police brutality and shared a cell video of his arrest on social media (video below).
Purdue University Police Department (PDPU) Captain Song Kang said the incident occurred at about 8:22 p.m. on Feb. 4 near Harrison and Horticulture Drives, the Journal & Courier reported.
Capt. Kang said officers responded to a 911 call from a person who said it appeared as though a man was holding a woman against her will.
The captain said that Purdue University Police Officer Jon Selke was the first to arrive on the scene and he separated the couple who had been tussling, the Journal and Courier reported.
Capt. Kang said that 24-year-old Adonis Tuggle refused to comply with Officer Selke’s lawful requests, so the officer tried to take him into custody.
After Tuggle resisted arrest, Officer Selke took him to the ground in an effort to gain compliance and detain him.
Cell phone video was filmed by Tuggle’s girlfriend and posted to social media that showed the two men struggling in the snow.
The video showed Tuggle on his back in the snow with the officer on top of him.
Tuggle aggressively resisted the officer’s efforts to gain control of him, the video showed.
“You’re hurting me, you’re hurting me,” Tuggle complained as he fought the officer.
Tuggle’s girlfriend stood over the two struggling men, filming the video with her cell phone as she yelled at the officer to get off of her boyfriend.
Video showed the officer requested backup more than once during the struggle.
“You’re hurting him. You’re hurting him. Can you take your elbow off his f-king neck?” the girlfriend screamed.
But at the moment she was accusing the officer of holding Tuggle by the neck, the video showed Officer Selke repeatedly push his arm on the suspect’s jaw to.
The video showed that the officer’s arm appeared to be on Tuggle’s neck for a few seconds on a couple of occasions during the struggle before the officer moved his arm back onto the Tuggle’s jaw.
“You been disrespectful this whole time,” Tuggle yelled at the officer at one point during the altercation.
That was when the suspect’s girlfriend reached out and put her hands on the officer.
“Touch me again, ma’am, and I will Tase you,” the officer warned her in the video. “Touch me again and I will Tase you. Stop.”
“You’ll Tase me? What am I doing to you? I have this on video. I’m trying to get your elbow off my boyfriend’s neck,” the woman told him.
When additional officers arrived on the scene, she complained to them.
“Please help. This officer won’t get off his neck. He’s has taken it too far,” she said.
Tuggle was taken into custody with the assistance of additional officers and booked into the Tippecanoe County Jail on suspicion of resisting law enforcement, the Post & Courier reported.
He posted a $250 bond and was released the same day.
Tuggle posted the cell phone video of his arrested, which did not show what led up to him being taken to the ground, and sparked outrage in the community.
PUPD Chief John Cox released a statement that said an investigation into the incident had been launched, the Post & Courier reported.
“Purdue University police became aware Friday night (Feb. 4) of an incident that occurred that evening involving a Purdue police officer who responded to an urgent call from a third party following our ‘see something, say something’ campus safety guidance,” the statement read. “The caller stated that it appeared a woman was being held against her will near Horticulture Drive.”
Chief Cox said both internal and external investigations would be conducted, the Post & Courier reported.
“Purdue police take incidents such as this seriously. The video from body-worn cameras will be made available as will all findings and evidence from the internal review when complete,” the police chief said.
Activists have already demanded that Officer Selke be terminated and criminally charged for using excessive force.
Officer Selke has been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated, according to Chief Cox.
He said no civilians or officers had been injured during the incident, the Post & Courier reported.
Purdue University President Mitch Daniels also released a statement that promised swift justice against the officer if the investigation determined that he had done something wrong.
“The inquiry into the police officer’s handling of the situation will be swift and thorough,” Daniels promised. “As an additional step, following the internal review, the Indiana State Police will immediately commence an independent review of the PUPD investigation and video evidence. Should there be a finding of misconduct by the officer, appropriate action will be taken promptly.”
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. WARNING – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
My friend Adonis was ABUSED by Purdue Police. He was beaten on and choked while pinned down to the ground by Officer Jon Selke. They refused to show body cam footage and investigation has decided the Officer has done no wrong. THIS SHIT IS RIDICULOUS. Nothing changes… pic.twitter.com/dGav5jD6DQ
— KJ Redfield (@Kiing_Ken20) February 9, 2022
Holly Matkin
