A police officer in a small city in western Alabama has been placed on administrative leave after a video capturing her using a stun gun on a handcuffed Black man went viral on social media. The incident took place on December 2 and was recorded by a witness and posted online. The video begins with a white female officer from the Reform Police Department and a Black man handcuffed on the ground on the side of a road. The man in the video has been identified as 24-year-old Micah Washington, according to his attorney, Leroy Maxwell, Jr. However, it is not publicly known what led to the interaction between the officer, identified as Dana Elmore in the arrest complaint, and Washington.

According to Maxwell, Washington was changing a tire on the side of the road when Officer Elmore approached him and asked for his identification. Washington initially refused but eventually complied and began recording the encounter on his phone. Maxwell alleges that Officer Elmore used her stun gun on Washington shortly after he started recording and then proceeded to handcuff him while he was on the ground. The Reform Police Department has not provided any additional information or the incident report in response to CNN's request, and Officer Elmore could not be reached for comment.

In the video recorded by Washington's brother, the officer can be heard instructing Washington to stand up before walking him over and leaning him against the hood of a patrol car. She then proceeds to search him while Washington protests. At one point, Washington informs the officer that he has a gun in his possession, to which she responds by placing it on the hood of the car. Afterward, she deploys her stun gun on Washington's back, all while yelling expletives at him. The video does not show what transpired after this point.

An arrest affidavit signed by Officer Elmore accuses Washington of multiple offenses, including obstructing government operations, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, and trafficking fentanyl. However, Maxwell claims that some of the charges have already been dropped and asserts that Washington is not a felon and that the gun he had was legal. Washington was released from jail after posting a $5,000 bond.

Maxwell has called attention to what he believes are clear wrongdoings and excessive use of force in the video. He describes the incident as assault and battery and asserts that bogus charges were placed on his client. Maxwell has vowed to work towards clearing Washington's name and holding all responsible parties accountable.

Reform Police Chief Richard Black and Mayor Melody Davis released a joint statement on Facebook in response to the arrest video. They acknowledged being aware of the incident and confirmed that Officer Elmore has been placed on administrative leave. The statement also mentions that the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is conducting its own investigation into the incident.

Reform is a small city with a population of approximately 3,000 people, located about 80 miles west of Birmingham. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice within the community and beyond. The attention garnered by the viral video has prompted a thorough review of the incident by the state, and many are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the investigation.