Video spurs inquiry into Salem officer

A Salem police officer has been reassigned to desk duty while police conduct an internal investigation into an arrest he made Friday that was posted on the video website YouTube under the headline, "Bad Salem Cop."

The video shows Officer Larry Puleo yelling at a man to move from an area, then rushing at him from behind, grabbing him by the face, and pulling him to the ground. Police identified the man as Travis Markarian, 21, of Swampscott. Markarian was charged with disorderly conduct, failure to disperse, and resisting arrest.

The video showed Puleo putting someone in a police cruiser before moving toward Markarian, who looked like he was questioning the officer. Puleo then could be heard yelling, "Get out of here or you're next. Get the (expletive) out of here now," before he grabbed Markarian and yanked him to the ground.

Police Lieutenant Scott Englehardt said last night that the incident remains under investigation and that Puleo will stay on desk duty until the investigation is concluded.

He said the officer had been sent to the downtown area to disperse raucous crowds after bars let out Friday night and early Saturday. Englehardt said police are investigating an allegation that Puleo was punched just before the incident that appeared on the video. Three other people were arrested that night for allegedly failing to disperse.

Markarian did not shoot or post the video. He could not be reached for comment last night.

Salem police often have difficulty dealing with raucous crowds during October, when this "Witch City" commemorates the Halloween season with a month full of activities called Haunted Happenings. It draws thousands of tourists, and police often have to work extra patrols to disperse crowds.