Video: Family demands that cop who beat woman face charges
The family of a woman who was repeatedly punched in the face by an LAPD police officer is demanding the officer be charged.
The California Highway Patrol said that it will carry out a full investigation after a video of one of its officers repeatedly punching a woman he had pinned down on the side of a freeway surfaced.
The woman had been walking on Interstate 10 west of downtown Los Angeles, endangering herself and people in traffic, and the officer was trying to restrain her, CHP Assistant Chief Chris O’Quinn said at a news conference. O’Quinn said the woman had begun walking off the freeway but returned when the confrontation occurred.
The video shows the woman struggling and trying to sit up while the officer punches her in the face and head until an off-duty law enforcement officer appears and helps him handcuff her.
Passing Driver David Diaz recorded the Tuesday incident and provided it to media outlets including The Associated Press. He told the AP in a phone interview Friday that he arrived as the woman was walking off the freeway. He said she turned around only after the officer shouted something to her.
“He agitated the situation more than helped it,” said Diaz, who started filming soon after.
Watch the disturbing video here (warning graphic):
According to Los Angeles attorney Caree Harper, the woman’s family wants authorities held accountable for “beating a great-grandmother in broad daylight.” She declined to disclose the woman’s name or what she was doing on the side of the road.
She is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
While we do not know the full details of what led to the abuse, there appears to be an extremely excessive level of force on a woman who seems to be defenseless.
We will keep you updated on this story.
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