North Wales Police Officer Faces Misconduct Hearing Over Restraint and Punching of Suspect

A police officer who was captured on video delivering nine punches to a man's head while holding him in a neck restraint has been accused of deploying unreasonable force during a contentious arrest, a disciplinary panel has been told.

PC Richard Williams appeared before a police misconduct hearing to answer eight specific allegations regarding his handling of suspect Steven Clark during an altercation that took place in Gwynedd. Presenters of the case against Williams argued that the officer repeatedly overstepped acceptable standards of force throughout the encounter.

The formal disciplinary proceedings, held at the North Wales Police headquarters located in Colwyn Bay, focus on a series of controversial actions attributed to the officer. The misconduct panel is reviewing allegations that include placing the suspect in a chokehold, repeatedly striking him, using incapacitant spray unreasonably, and handling him roughly during loading into a transport vehicle.

The events in question trace back to May 2023, when police officers were dispatched to Porthmadog in Gwynedd following an emergency call about an active domestic disturbance. Upon arriving in the area, attending officers attempted to intervene in the situation and locate the individuals involved.

During the initial response, a woman at the scene informed the arriving officers that Clark, who was 34 years old at the time, was behaving erratically. She alerted police that he was under the influence of cannabis, describing him as being intoxicated on "wacky backy," and suggested that he might also have consumed other illicit substances.

The misconduct hearing heard that the encounter quickly deteriorated into a physical confrontation when officers initiated the process of taking Clark into custody. Presenters noted that the situation took an immediate turn for the worse, culminating in the suspect being taken to the ground in an effort to bring him under control.

Among the specific charges brought forward, it is alleged that Williams utilized handcuffs in a manner designed to inflict pain on Clark's wrist. The panel was told that the suspect visibly winced and physically reacted to the discomfort caused during the initial application of the restraints.

To assess the officer's actions, the disciplinary panel was shown extensive visual evidence from multiple perspectives. The hearing reviewed segments of footage captured by police body-worn cameras alongside independent video recordings captured on mobile phones by onlookers who witnessed the confrontation unfold in public.

Central to the allegations is the restraint technique employed while Clark was pinned on the ground. Williams is accused of placing Clark in an unreasonable headlock or "choker" hold, wrapping an arm securely around the suspect's neck while attempting to maintain physical control.

Statements presented to the hearing revealed that Clark complained he was unable to breathe while restrained in the neck grip. During subsequent police interviews, Clark further indicated that the pressure on his throat left him feeling as though he was on the verge of losing consciousness during the arrest.

The panel was also informed that Williams proceeded to punch Clark nine times in the face or head using his free hand while maintaining the hold on his neck. Presenters argued that these strikes were delivered in rapid succession with no pause for assessment or reflection, constituting an unlawful and disproportionate use of physical force.

In addition to the physical strikes and restraint holds, the officer faces four distinct allegations concerning the deployment or attempted deployment of incapacitant spray. The panel is assessing whether the repeated use or threatened use of the chemical agent against Clark was necessary or compliant with operational guidelines.

A further allegation relates to the manner in which the arrest was concluded, with the officer accused of throwing or dropping Clark into the back of a police van. The hearing was told that this occurred as the suspect continued to resist officers during the final stages of the apprehension.

Williams has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing, maintaining that his actions were justified under the circumstances of the volatile arrest. The officer previously stood trial at Caernarfon Crown Court in 2025, where he was formally cleared of criminal charges of assault and intentional strangulation following a seven-day jury trial.

Despite the prior criminal acquittal, the internal disciplinary panel must determine independently whether Williams breached professional police standards amounting to gross misconduct. Following the presentation of initial evidence and video recordings, the hearing at Colwyn Bay was adjourned and is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.