North Carolina Woman Pleads for ‘Mental Health Care’ as Officer Punches Her in Disturbing Video; Fired After Public Outrage

A North Carolina police officer was fired on May 30 after a video showing him repeatedly punching a woman during an arrest sparked public outrage and protests in Shelby.

The officer was identified as Karson Hyder. He was dismissed following an internal investigation, Shelby Police Chief Brad Fraser announced during a news conference. A home security camera captured the incident and went viral online. It drew renewed attention to police use of force and treatment of people experiencing mental health crises.

“As a lifelong resident of this community, I care deeply about the residents we serve and the reputation of this department,” Fraser said. “While this incident does not reflect the values of the Shelby Police Department, it does reinforce the importance of holding ourselves to the highest standards of conduct.”

The department has transferred its findings over to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which is reviewing whether any criminal laws were broken.

The motion-activated video shows the officer and the woman standing close together. Moments later, the officer wrestles her to the ground.

The woman can be heard saying, “I don’t have a warrant” and asking, “What are you doing?” The officer then appears to punch her several times in the face and upper body. A second officer arrives and repeatedly says, “I got her,” while attempting to pull the officer away. A third officer later joins the scene as they try to put the woman in handcuffs.

During the arrest, the woman asks for mental health care, claiming she is off her medication and repeatedly asks officers to call her father.

The footage was recorded by a homeowner who said the person initially ignored notifications from their security camera, thinking the person was children playing outside.

Protesters gathered outside the Shelby Police Department on May 29 before the officer was fired. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Protect our women” and “Chief Fraser, do your job,” while chanting, “No justice, no peace, let’s prosecute the police.”

The woman’s father, Gregory Moore, identified her as his 34-year-old daughter and said she suffers from mental health and substance abuse issues. “I was so upset,” Moore told CNN. “Why is this man doing this to my daughter? What reason? And she’s sick.”

Moore said his daughter suffered a broken nose, black eyes, and a cut lip. Doctors are also examining her for a possible concussion. “She’s going to be scarred the rest of her life,” he said.

The woman is facing charges including breaking, resisting a public officer, and assault on a government employee. Authorities allege she entered a building unlawfully, fled on foot, and damaged the officer’s uniform during the arrest.

Her attorney, Ronald Haynes Jr., said the charges remain active. He called the incident devastating for both the family and the broader community.

Michael Alcazar, a retired New York police detective and criminal justice professor who reviewed the video, said the officer “employed force far beyond what the situation required.”