Cop captured in video punching man on the ground acted 'within policy': police chief

An officer captured in a video widely circulated on social media that shows him repeatedly punching a suspect who is on the ground acted “within policy,” according to Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea, The Idaho Statesman reports.

Officer Donald Heida is seen in the video punching Colt James Seward in the head and face while he was pinned to the ground. Fellow officer Sean McDonald detained and arrested Seward.

The officers were identified in a probable cause affidavit the news outlet obtained and subsequently confirmed by Basterrechea.

Basterrechea also confirmed that officer seen in the video punching Seward was Heida, who joined the agency in April 2021.

Neither officer was placed on leave or assigned administrative tasks, and neither officer was injured.

Officers at around 5:15 p.m. May 16 found Seward in his 2014 Dodge Challenger “passed out in traffic” in the area of North Ten Mile Road and West Ustick Road in Meridian.

Seward was “clearly under the influence of drugs,” Basterrechea said.

Seward was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, battering a law enforcement officer, and unlawful possession of a firearm by someone with a prior felony conviction, among other charges.

Officers found a .40-caliber handgun and a bag of suspected methamphetamine and Xanax during a search of Seward’s vehicle.

After his arrest, Seward slipped out of his handcuffs while sitting in the back seat of a patrol car.

Alex Brizee writes for The Statesman that “Basterrechea alleged that as McDonald took the handcuff off Seward’s right hand, Seward ‘threw an elbow,’ hitting Heida in the chest and knocking his body camera to the ground.”

The officers then forced Seward to the ground.

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The 25-second video shows Heida repeatedly striking Seward as he pins his knee to the ground.

Basterrechea in a statement obtained by The Statesman said that, “These incidents don’t happen if the suspect cooperates.”

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