Signs for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump lie on the bleachers at a campaign rally in Warren, Mich. Time magazine complained to the Secret Service after one of its photographers was tackled by a Secret Service agent at a Trump rally in Virginia. The Department of Homeland Security has opened an investigation into the incident. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general has opened an investigation into an incident in which a photographer for Time magazine was tackled by a Secret Service officer at a Donald Trump rally in Radford, Va.

The Feb. 29 incident was captured on multiple cellphone videos last week and immediately went viral online. The photographer, Christopher Morris, was covering the rally and was attempting to leave a cordoned off section of the floor where members of the media were told to remain.


The media usually has free reign at campaign events, but during some recent Trump rallies -- which have been frequently disrupted by screaming protesters -- members of the media have been asked to stay in a gated area -- referred to as a "press pen."

The video shows Morris using a profanity after getting into a shouting match with the agent, who was blocking his exit from the pen. Then, the agent grabs Morris by the neck in a choke hold, spins him around and slams him onto a table. Morris then falls to the ground and the agent holds him down for several seconds before the video ends.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said a full report will be published once the investigation concludes.

"When our investigation is finished, we will publish a report describing our findings related to this specific incident and any wider management concerns that may be uncovered," inspector general spokesman Arlen Morales added, while declining further comment on the investigation.