A Shelby police officer has been fired after doorbell camera video showed him punching a 34-year-old woman multiple times while arresting her, sparking public outrage and protests in the small North Carolina city.
The incident happened Friday evening, May 29, during what police described as a criminal investigation in the area.
Officers spotted a woman, identified as Cherrie Moore, whom they considered suspicious. She ended up on the ground as one officer struck her repeatedly.
Doorbell Camera Video Triggers Outrage in North Carolina Town
In the viral video, which sparked public uproar, the officer was seen on top of Moore, throwing punches at her before another officer stepped in.
Shelby Police Chief Brad Fraser announced the firing on Saturday, May 30. The department said it had completed an internal investigation and concluded that the force used was inappropriate.
The officer, whose name has not been released, was first placed on administrative leave and then terminated.
“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,” Fraser said, as first reported by ABC News.
He described the officer’s actions as “disturbing and inappropriate” and made clear that such use of force will not be tolerated.
The department has turned its findings over to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for an independent review that could lead to criminal charges against the officer.
Moore, who weighs about 90 pounds, was body-slammed and punched during the arrest, her family said. Her uncle, Michael Moore, told WSOC-TV that watching the video left him devastated.
“You can only imagine how I feel to see my niece body‑slammed to the ground at 90 pounds,” he said.
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The family has highlighted her small size and the injuries she suffered, including a broken nose. Regardless of the injuries she sustained, Moore faces charges of resisting arrest and assaulting an officer.
Details about what exactly happened before the doorbell camera started recording remain unclear.
Police in North Carolina have not released body camera footage or a full account of the initial encounter.
The video brought dozens of people to protest in Shelby on Friday as residents gathered to demand answers and express frustration over what they saw as excessive force against a small woman.
City Manager Justin Merritt said the incident left the whole community in shock. He thanked Chief Fraser and the department for acting fast on the investigation.
“While yesterday’s incident is still raw and difficult to understand, today marks the beginning of a path forward to repair the damage that has been done,” Merritt said.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile police use-of-force incidents in North Carolina that have sparked national debate.
In many of those cases, video evidence played a key role in public reaction and official decisions.
Here, the doorbell camera provided a clear, unfiltered view that residents and officials could not ignore.
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Shelby is a city of about 20,000 people in Cleveland County, roughly 45 miles west of Charlotte.
The police department has faced criticism in the past over other matters, but this marks one of its most visible controversies in recent years.
Police said officers were in the neighborhood for a separate criminal probe when they came across Moore.
Authorities have not explained why they approached her or what made her suspicious.
The lack of that information has fueled questions from her family and members of the public in North Carolina.
Moore’s family said the arrest had left her with visible injuries and emotional trauma. They are now calling for transparency, including the release of any other video from police body cameras, even as they plan to consult with legal experts on which steps to take.
Chief Fraser said the department takes use-of-force issues seriously because all officers receive training in proper techniques and de-escalation, and that violations result in swift consequences.
