The South Seattle Police Department is investigating what they call “an assault of an officer” today. However, the video below may tell a different story
The incident took place Monday afternoon when the officer witnessed four teenage girls jaywalking across Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S. According to police officials, the young women became “verbally antagonistic” when the officer asked them to step over to his patrol car. The officer zeroed in on one woman who started to walk away and attempted to physically escort her to the vehicle.
The woman resisted and an altercation ensued.
WATCH VIDEO OF A POLICE OFFICER PUNCHING A TEENAGER
[youtubevid http://youtube.com/watch?v=E9w9AfptGGQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]
Shortly thereafter, a second young lady intervened to try to help her friend. According to Seattle police, the officer believed “she was attempting to physically affect the first subject’s escape”.
As seen in the video, the officer and the second young lady became entangled in a shoving match when the officer punched the girl in the face.
While both young ladies struggled to free themselves from the officer’s grip, police backup arrived and the women were taken into custody.
Sgt. Sean Whitcomb of the Seattle Police Department told reporters that punching is a trained tactic and the department defends the officer’s actions.