The man seen in a video of his traffic stop arrest in Jasper last year has been indicted in connection with the initial incident.
Samuel "Sal" Isaac Hrynecwicz, 52, of Dunlap, is charged on a four-count grand jury indictment with two counts of assault on a police officer, criminal impersonation and resisting arrest, according to the indictment handed down by a Marion County grand jury.
Hrynecwicz's lawyer, Dunlap attorney Thomas Austin, was in court Wednesday when his office was contacted by phone and could not be reached for comment.
A video taken by the driver of the car stopped by Jasper Police Officer Justin Graham capturing portions of Hrynecwicz's Aug. 5 arrest gained popularity on social media. The video was reviewed by the district attorney along with police body-worn camera footage to see if charges against the police officer were warranted amid allegations Hrynecwicz was punched in the face during the arrest.
After District Attorney Courtney C. Lynch performed the review less than a week after the traffic stop, she ruled Graham's use of force was lawful.
Hrynecwicz, who has remained free on a $4,500 bond, was the passenger in a car stopped by Graham for allegedly running a stop sign and almost causing a collision, according to authorities at the time.
The video shows Hrynecwicz struggling with Graham, who pepper-sprayed him and struck him in the face, all actions Lynch called justified in a review of the arrest. Following public release of video of the incident taken by the driver of the car, Jasper authorities held a news conference on the arrest, specifically focusing on Hrynecwicz and police actions taken in arresting him.
Hrynecwicz appeared to be intoxicated, and Graham saw what he initially identified as a firearm in the back seat, though the gun was later found to be an airsoft gun, Jasper City Attorney Mark Raines said during the August news conference.
Graham repeatedly asked Hrynecwicz to get out of the car, but he did not get out, and Graham appeared to reach across him and undo his seat belt, according to the video shown at the conference in August. He and other officers who joined the stop eventually pulled Hrynecwicz out of the car and put him face down on the ground while they handcuffed him.
During the struggle, Graham used pepper spray and struck Hrynecwicz with an open hand, attempting to deliver a brachial stun to his neck, but Graham missed and struck Hrynecwicz in the face, according to Lynch's ruling.
"The presence of what appeared to be a firearm similar to the weapons used by SWAT teams gave the officers cause to ask Mr. Hrynecwicz to step out of the vehicle," Lynch said in August.
Hrynecwicz's next court appearance is set for Feb. 1 in Marion County Criminal Court for a discussion hearing, according to court records.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.