Brutal Cop Slap on Handcuffed Autistic Man: London PD Officers Resign After FBI Called In
London, Kentucky – In a shocking display of police brutality caught on body camera footage, a London police officer allegedly slapped a restrained 20-year-old man with autism while he was already in custody — prompting the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office to immediately notify the FBI.
The disturbing incident occurred on April 22, 2026, when officers responded to a report of a man acting out near Hicks Lane after leaving an Inspired Living treatment facility. The individual, identified as Cody Grimshaw, was located in a field behind Lowe’s and reportedly began throwing rocks, escalating the situation.
London police arrived first and engaged in a physical struggle with Grimshaw. Laurel County deputies assisted in restraining him, and he was taken into custody by London PD. But the horror didn’t end there.
According to officials, after Grimshaw was handcuffed and secured, a London police officer allegedly slapped him in the face. Deputies later viewed body camera footage showing the unnecessary use of force on the vulnerable autistic man — and were reportedly disturbed to hear officers from both agencies laughing about the incident afterward.
Laurel County Sheriff’s command staff reviewed the evidence on April 23 and swiftly referred the case to the FBI for a federal civil rights investigation. London Police Chief Gary Miller confirmed the victim has autism and condemned the actions.
Mayor Randall Weddle didn’t hold back, stating he was “disturbed” by the footage: “I’m disturbed when I viewed the body camera footage that I seen an LPD officer smack an autistic individual. I was disturbed at the end of the audio that both agencies laughed about the situation.”
In a swift move to address the scandal, two London officers were suspended without pay and later resigned in lieu of termination. A third supervisor, who was not on scene, received a suspension with pay and a written reprimand. The officers’ names have not been publicly released.
All charges against Grimshaw have been dropped. The London Police Department announced it will undergo third-party de-escalation training, including input from families of autistic children, and has implemented a new policy requiring immediate notification to the mayor on use-of-force complaints.
Chief Miller emphasized the department’s commitment to accountability, while Mayor Weddle made it clear: “We will not tolerate things like this in this city… I will not tolerate this.”
This outrageous case of alleged abuse against a mentally vulnerable individual has rocked the small Kentucky community and triggered federal scrutiny. Many are left wondering how officers sworn to protect could allegedly resort to slapping a handcuffed autistic man and then laugh about it.
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