Off-duty police pepper spray NC shoppers

A video posted on YouTube depicts the incident in which security used pepper spray on shoppers in Kinston, N.C.

By msnbc.com staff and NBC News

Updated 3:25 p.m. ET: An off-duty police officer used pepper spray Friday on shoppers at a Wal-Mart in Kinston, N.C., NBC station WITN of Washington, N.C., reported.

Kinston police Sgt. Roland Davis said an off-duty officer the store had hired to help with security during Black Friday shopping used the chemical while trying to make an arrest during a disturbance.

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Angel Bunting, who was shopping at the store, said a man fell into a display as people lined up for discounted cell phones. She said she believed it was an accident but security thought there was a fight.

About 20 people, including children, were affected by the pepper spray, she alleged, but that couldn't be confirmed.

In a video of the even posted on YouTube, which you can watch above, people are seen covering their noses and mouths before police handcuff a man.

Police arrested Gordon Jackson, 58, who they said failed to follow their instructions. Jackson, perhaps ironically, is a former Kinston police officer, CBS station WNCT reported.

"He was raining it over the whole crowd, so it will rain down on their heads," Jackson told the station. "Some of it got my granddaughter in her face and eyes, and she had to go the emergency room because she's asthmatic."

A full roundup of Black Friday violence is here.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/25/9019149-off-duty-police-pepper-spray-nc-shoppers

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