The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - The city's police chief has ordered an investigation into a videotaped traffic stop of a suspect who was restrained in a lengthy headlock by an officer after being handcuffed.

Chief Robert White decided to order the professional standards investigation after viewing a 45-minute police videotape of the Nov. 30 incident, in which the suspect also was pepper sprayed repeatedly.

Police spokeswoman Helene Kramer said White wanted to make sure the video, from a police car camera, "gets the attention it deserves and that the investigation has the integrity it deserves."

Meanwhile, charges against the suspect, Marshall Galloway, 25, were dismissed Wednesday in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Prosecutors cited lack of evidence and the police conduct seen on the videotape. Galloway had been charged with felony assault of a police officer and three misdemeanors.

Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Stengel, who recommended that the charges be dismissed, said he was "disturbed" by police actions on the videotape of the arrest.

"I don't like it," he said. "I would hope this is not standard police work here in this town."

Stengel said that while he didn't agree with all of the actions of arresting Officer Harry Cambron, he saw nothing illegal in what Cambron did.

The videotape, obtained by a newspaper and posted on its Web site, showed that in trying to subdue and arrest Galloway, Cambron wrestled him to the hood of a police cruiser, sprayed pepper spray into Galloway's face multiple times and put him into a headlock for nearly five minutes, including about 31/2 minutes after another officer had handcuffed Galloway and held his legs.

In his police report, Cambron wrote that Galloway kicked the officer and tried to flee.