The put some on Q-tips and touched the Q-tip in the corner of their eyes.
Pepper spray is properly used to bring an out-of-control person under control. If a police officer can get in a position where he can dab a swab in someone's eye, that person can be otherwise controlled.
Thus, these police officers were administering punishment not performing apprehension. Punishment is not the responsibility of police officers and every cop knows that.
I was discussing a similar situation with a police sergeant. I said, "If you had to chase and apprehend a suspect that you knew had just raped a young child, wouldn't you be tempted to give his head an extra bounce off the sidewalk before putting him in the police car?"
This hardened veteran's response was: "Then, you wouldn't be suited to being a police officer."