WATCH: Deputy Accidentally Pepper-Sprays Herself, Partner During Heated NY Public Hearing

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

A New York sheriff’s deputy attempting to detain a man during a tense public hearing accidentally pepper-sprayed herself, her partner, and the speaker, video obtained by Daily Voice shows.

The incident happened Thursday, Nov. 20, in Onondaga County during a packed hearing at Clay Town Hall related to the county’s effort to evict 91-year-old Azalia King from her longtime home under eminent domain.

Video provided to Daily Voice by Duane Whitmer, president of Act Now Media, shows a man identifying himself only as “Timothy” addressing the panel running the hearing.

In the footage, the man grows frustrated and directs profanity toward three attorneys from Barclay Damon, the firm representing the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA).

As two female Onondaga County sheriff’s deputies move in to detain him, the man repeatedly asks why he is being taken into custody. Within seconds, one of the deputies unintentionally discharges her pepper spray, sending a dense white cloud into the room.

The deputy who fired the spray immediately coughs, ducks down, and steps away before rejoining her partner as they continue detaining the man.

Comments on Whitmer’s post show viewers questioning the deputies’ decision-making and use of force. Several argued the speaker had not committed a crime and criticized the pepper-spray deployment as unnecessary.

"The pepper spray deployment wasn’t reasonable to gain control," one commenter wrote. "They both should be reprimanded and re-trained and certified to deploy chemical agents."

Onondaga County prosecutors ultimately declined to bring charges against the speaker.

Daily Voice has reached out to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office to ask whether the deputy who discharged the spray will face any investigation or discipline.

Eviction Fight Behind the Chaos

The heated exchange unfolded at the height of public backlash over the county’s attempt to remove Azalia King from the Caughdenoy Road home she has lived in for six decades to make way for Micron Technology’s massive semiconductor project, Syracuse.com reports.

More than 150 residents crowded into the room to oppose the eviction. Over 30 speakers addressed OCIDA’s plan to seize the property through eminent domain. All but one argued that forcing a 91-year-old widow from her home was cruel and unnecessary.

King and her late husband, Glenn, sold the land to OCIDA in 2005 under the threat of eminent domain, but the agency signed an agreement allowing them to remain in the house for the rest of their lives, according to Syracuse.com. Glenn King died in 2015. OCIDA began eviction proceedings in September and launched eminent-domain action earlier this month.

The day after the contentious hearing — and after widespread public outcry — County Executive Ryan McMahon announced the county had reached an agreement with King.

“I’m happy to report that we have reached an agreement with Mrs. King related to the ongoing litigation,” McMahon said at a news conference. “I want to thank the King family. I want to thank all the teams that worked on this.”

McMahon did not disclose details, citing a pending vote by the OCIDA board scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11.

Check out video of the incident below.