An Austin police officer who pepper sprayed a handcuffed man in the face during South by Southwest has been suspended 45 days.
City officials confirmed to KVUE's Tony Plohetski that Officer Cameron Caldwell was suspended through a negotiated agreement with Police Chief Art Acevedo.
In a video shot by the group "Peaceful Streets," Chicago native Tyrone Wilson, 25, was being arrested on a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest during SXSW when Officer Caldwell opened the door and told him to stop kicking. Moments later, the two men have another exchange in which Caldwell used pepper spray on Wilson.
Soon after the incident, Caldwell's lawyer told the KVUE Defenders that he did not think the officer broke department policy.
That policy states officers can use pepper spray on a violent suspect but not to merely inflict pain. An arrest affidavit said that Wilson had also been combative toward officers, and that another one used a stun gun on him.
"In the heat of the moment where you have a guy kicking and screaming and acting a fool, he made a decision, it was the wrong decision," Acevedo said. "But what he has indicated to us through this process is that he gets it."
In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Acevedo said that Caldwell will have a one-year probationary period after the suspension. He will also be evaluated by an APD psychologist and must seek counseling if the psychologist recommends it.
It is not known as of Tuesday afternoon if Caldwell will appeal the suspension.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.