Amsterdam Police Use of Force Under Fire | Albany News

Albany News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 6, 2026 · 1m

A 21-year-old man, Hiram J. Reyes, is at the center of a fiery civil rights controversy after being tackled and pepper-sprayed by Amsterdam police while already restrained — an incident captured on video and now under review by the state attorney general. Reyes claims he was simply walking away after an argument and refused to comply with what he saw as an unwarranted arrest, while police say they were responding to an alleged assault and that their force was justified. The complaint alleges excessive use of force, with Reyes sustaining neck marks and bruises. Police Chief Spencer defends the…