WINCHESTER, Va. — A Winchester Police Department (WPD) officer was put on administrative leave after a concerning civilian video surfaced via social media on Monday.
The one-minute clip, posted on a local Facebook group, showed a WPD officer punching and then deploying a taser on a man who seemed to be already complying with the officer’s commands. However, the video did not show or explain what happened in the moments leading up to the incident.
Within a short period of time, the clip was viewed and shared by hundreds of people.
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On the afternoon of March 24, 2025, WPD Chief Ronnie Lewis issued the following statement:
The Winchester Police Department is aware of a video on social media this evening showing an officer using force during an arrest. We understand that these types of videos can be concerning to community members. The Department is conducting a thorough administrative review of the incident in accordance with current policy. We will release additional information to the community in the coming days once this review is complete.
The video continued to rack up views on multiple social media platforms. The clip, recorded by bystander Edgar Membreno, is below.
On March 25, 2025, the WPD issued this additional statement:
On Monday, March 24, at 3:58 p.m., an officer with the Winchester Police Department (WPD) was at the Sheetz at 2311 Valley Avenue in the city of Winchester on an unrelated call for service when he was advised by a community member that a man outside the business was consuming alcohol in public.
The officer made contact with the suspect, later identified as Robert Rampy, 47, of Frederick County.
The officer attempted to detain Rampy, and a struggle ensued.
The officer called for backup and deployed his issued taser to gain compliance and make the arrest. Additional officers responded to the scene and assisted in securing Rampy. He was transported to the Winchester Medical Center in accordance with the WPD’s electronic control weapon policy, where he was treated and released.
Rampy was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice, and having an open container of alcohol in public.
Once Rampy was transported to the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center (NRADC), he was found to have two concealed knives in his property. He was subsequently charged with possession of a concealed weapon and possession of a concealed weapon by a convicted felon. He was held at the NRADC on a secured bond.
Per the WPD’s “use of force” policy, the primary involved officer has been placed on paid administrative leave while a comprehensive internal review is conducted.
This is a developing story.