A NORTH Wales Police officer punched a man to the face nine times as he tried to arrest him, a misconduct hearing was told.
Footage of PC Richard Williams, 44, apprehending Steven Clark in a garden in Porthmadog, Gwynedd on May 10, 2023 was subsequently shared widely on social media.
While PC Williams was found not guilty of criminal charges of intentional strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, he is facing misconduct proceedings this week.
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PC Williams is accused of gross misconduct by using “unreasonable force” while trying to arrest Mr Clark, including by placing him in a headlock, punching him, twisting handcuffs, and throwing him into a police van.
On the first day of the hearing on Monday (September 14), Stephen Morley, for the force's professional standards department, said PC Williams and his colleague went to Mr Clark’s home after a lady reported an “unpleasant domestic argument” involving him.
But while trying to arrest Mr Clark on suspicion of common assault, PC Williams applied a handcuff to his left wrist, allegedly twisting it to cause him pain.
Mr Clark and the two officers ended up on the ground, with PC Williams heard saying: “What the f*** are you doing?” and “stop resisting”.
While holding Mr Clark in a headlock, PC Williams punched him nine times to the face or head.
He later sprayed him at “close range” with incapacitant spray to his face, before Mr Clark was then “thrown or dropped deliberately” into a police van.
PC Williams claims his actions were “completely reasonable in the circumstances,” and that he “did the best I could,” the hearing was told.
Mr Clark was heard saying: “I can’t breathe” and “help” during the incident, as well as complaining that his arm hurt.
“We accept some force was required, because Mr Clark was under arrest and not under control, and the female officer was on the ground, apparently with Mr Clark on top of her,” Mr Morley said.
“But our case is that the force used by PC Williams was unreasonable.”
Mr Morley added that police officers are advised not to deploy captor spray at such close range to the intended target as it could cause damage to the eyes.
He added that Mr Clark should have been “carefully put into the (police) van” during his arrest.
Mr Clark was taken to hospital later that day, before being returned to custody following his discharge.
In his police interview, he said he could not remember the incident, and thought he had lost consciousness during it.
The hearing will resume on Tuesday, when Mr Clark is expected to give evidence, and is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
PC Williams will likely give evidence on Wednesday.
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