In a video taken inside of an East Syracuse Walmart on the Fourth of July, two women are seen being apprehended by two DeWitt police officers. Officer Rory Spain is seen punching one of the women after she appears to attempt to bite him.

On Thursday, the DeWitt Police Chief Chase Bilodeau said that the action was justified. He says Spain used a move taught in police academy, which is meant to stun a person, not injure them.

“It’s an emotionally evoking thing, it’s a violent action,” Bilodeau said. “We don’t want to see that as a society, and we don’t want to see or do that as police officers. It’s not what we want.”

DeWitt police were called to the Walmart for reports of a large fight between five to six people in which employees were being threatened, hit and a customer was using pepper spray.

In the video, a woman appears to resist an attempt by Spain to arrest her before becoming compliant. Police say a second woman in the video, who was pregnant, also resisted arrest by attempting to pull the woman away from the officer.

Because of this and surveillance video of her using pepper spray, the woman is then apprehended by Police Officer Corey Buyck. He pulls the woman to the ground and holds her there for most of the video, but police say that, too, was justified because they say she was resisting.

“There are emotional responses that are evoked when you watch this video," Bilodeau said. "So, it’s not easy for individuals to watch it and I think, obviously, they are human beings just like we are, and they are people who live in the community. It’s tough to watch. But I think they understand that the officer had a right to defend himself and act in this incident.”

The internal investigation was turned over to the chief, who presented it to the police commission. Members will have a chance to ask questions or comment before it's finalized.

“It was conversation. It was intense conversation. It was not an easy time or discussion. People were very vocal and very expressive in their considerations. We went frame, by frame, by frame,” said Bishop Dr. H. Bernard Alex, who is an active part of the community and pastor of Victory Church, someone you’ll see at every protest.

He is also part of the police commission.

“I want all police departments to do their jobs and to do them well,” Alex said. “And I want anyone involved in interactions with the police to come out unscathed and unharmed.”

Following the incident, Spain was placed on paid administrative leave while an internal investigation was conducted. He will remain on leave and receive training until sometime next week.

Additionally, the department will look into creating a way to ensure more officers respond to certain calls. The chief says the incident could have been better contained.

“But what we saw and what the chief said, well, is that there were several variables that led up to that point,” Alex said. “And in consideration of all those variables, it gave places where additional training, growth and development of the force can happen. It also opens up conversation.”