N.H. police chief seen on video grabbing man by throat inside police station

The police chief of Gorham, New Hampshire, has been placed on administrative leave after a video was released showing a physical altercation inside the police station.

In the station’s security footage – obtained by Stephen Gregory, of Berlin, New Hampshire, who… Send it to WMURThe outlet reported – Chief Jimmy Wilhoit was seen grabbing a man by the throat and shoving him against a wall.

“Due to the allegations regarding our police chief, he has been placed on administrative leave while these allegations are investigated,” City Manager Joe Hemmings said in a statement to Boston.com. Hemmings denied commenting further on the allegations.

Gregory told WMUR that the recording depicts a confrontation between him and Willhoite that escalated when the chief grabbed Gregory by the neck and pushed him against the station wall.

Before the incident, Gregory was attending Gorham’s annual Fourth of July Carnival with his wife and saw a man who, he says, threatened to stab him about two months ago.

After the man yelled at him, Gregory went to the police station to report him — and then the confrontation with Wilhoite occurred, Gregory told WMUR.

The state Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Unit and the New Hampshire State Police Standards and Training Board are investigating the incident, Hemmings said.

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office told Boston.com that it “will neither confirm nor deny any potential matter involving the New Hampshire Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Unit,” citing the state’s privacy laws.

City officials said Gregory was arrested that night and charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, though Gregory disputes his arrest, WMUR reported.

“The safety of our community and the integrity of our law enforcement agencies are the city’s top priorities,” Hemmings said. “We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously.”