April 23, 2021, 12:34 pm*
A video showing a police officer punching a woman during an arrest, then being stopped by fellow officers, is circulating around the internet—with many viewers experiencing mixed emotions.
Featured Video
Hide
The video, posted on YouTube by Fox 11 in Los Angeles, originated with a passerby who saw and filmed the arrest of a Latina suspect by three police officers in Westminister, California.
Advertisement
Hide
According to that story, officers were called to the scene of an alleged assault; police described the situation as a female Hispanic adult attacking an Asian woman who had tried to rescue a dog running in the street.
The woman detailed in the video was identified as Ciomara Garcia, a 34-year-old resident of Westminster. During their investigation, the story noted, “The officers learned that Garcia had an outstanding felony bench warrant for vandalism and detained her. Police said that she appeared to be exhibiting signs of being under the influence.”
The video shows Garcia, while handcuffed, kicking out at one of the officers during the arrest and appearing to make contact. The officer immediately lunges at her and punches her in the face twice.
Advertisement
Hide
Then, one of the other two accompanying officers pulls that cop away from Garcia, saying, “No” repeatedly to him, even as the cop who punched Garcia has his arm cocked and first clenched. The other officer, working to subdue the suspect, then pushes the cop who punched Garcia away. While the two officers who intervened continue to subdue the suspect, the cop who punched Garcia stands back.
Garcia then addresses that cop, saying what a YouTube commenter relayed and translated as “Ya vieron?” (“Did you see?”) and the cop responding, “Ya lo estan grabando, lo estan grabando” (“Right, they’re recording, they’re recording”).
The TV station reported that the Westminister Police Department issued a statement noting, “While trying to control Garcia, a WPD officer used force and struck Garcia twice with his fist. Two WPD officers immediately intervened and de-escalated the situation.”
Advertisement
Hide
While the officer who used force was placed on administrative leave, that wasn’t enough for at least one person on Twitter, who posted video of the incident, asking, “So are we not naming and shaming the dick who was about to beat up a handcuffed woman in Westminster?”
That led to reactions spanning the spectrum, including someone who asserted, “The cop should be fired. Today.”
That person then added, “As a special education teacher, I’ve been punched, kicked, & head butted by students. One almost broke my foot he stomped on it so hard. If I were to respond to a combative student by punching their face, I would be rightfully fired.”
Advertisement
Hide
The cop should be fired. Today.
As a special education teacher, I’ve been punched, kicked, & head butted by students. One almost broke my foot he stomped on it so hard. If I were to respond to a combative student by punching their face, I would be rightfully fired.
— Mhairi Forrest
(@mhairiforrest) April 23, 2021
Another stepped up to defend the cop who intervened, noting, “Nice to see the other cop stop him,” before adding, “That’s what your (sic) supposed to do, but would it have happened if the camera hadn’t been filming?”
*First Published: April 23, 2021, 12:33 pm
0 Comments