Salem cop suspended after YouTube video aired

SALEM – The Salem police officer who came under fire in October when a YouTube video depicted him grabbing a Swampscott man by the throat and throwing him to the ground has been suspended for 15 days without pay, according to the Salem police department.An internal report released Tuesday reveals patrolman Lawrence Puelo was suspended for conduct unbecoming of an officer in connection with the Oct. 17 incident. He began serving the suspension Tuesday.Travis Makarian, 21, of Swampscott, is seen on the video being grabbed by the throat and slammed on the ground by the officer.Puelo has been on desk duty since the video aired on the Internet and received widespread media attention.The internal report faults Puelo specifically for the neck grabbing and using foul language, but stops short of calling his actions police brutality.The incident occurred after a long night for Puelo and other Salem officers who dealt with rowdy bar patrons, many of whom refused to leave certain downtown areas after ordered by police.Police said Makarian’s friend had punched Puelo in the face before he was arrested minutes before the neck-grabbing incident.In the video, a woman is seen leading Makarian away from the area when ordered by police yet Puelo approaches Makarian anyway and grabs him by the neck. Police said Makarian, who was arrested for disorderly conduct, had not obeyed officers’ orders shortly before the video was taken.