Officer punches girl!?

Seattle officer punches girl in face during jaywalking stop

Ok.... This link was shown to me by a person on my facebook. The provider of the link had their own commentary "Many states are pushing to make the videotaping of an officer illegal."

Now, after seeing this... I was a bit conflicted. Of course I do not condone police brutality or racial profiling. However, I also don't think anyone should feel they are above the law. If you are not breaking the law, to your knowledge... then its natural you'd be defensive to an officer approaching you.

The problem is... you cant just assume you are being profiled. You can't assume that there isn't a valid reason for an officer to approach you, or that you shouldn't have to follow instruction.

I'm not sure what all led up to what we see in the video. But it looked to me like the young women were being extremely unruly. Again, the force used by the officer seemed excessive. But, I feel like SOMETHING needed to be done. No, its not okay to scream and shout and act a fool because you were asked to do something you don't want to do. In this case, jaywalking IS illegal. Im sure it warrants a fine or something. Its fair to assume that had these young girls followed instruction it would have been a victimless crime.

What do you think?

I really didn't feel like his force was excessive. It seemed to me he showed a lot of restraint actually. He only hit her once, he didn't beat hte crap out of her. She was a seventeen year old girl and he was a grown man who could have likely knocked her out. And he didn't. He hit her once and restrained her. And she initiated contact anyways. I don't agree with cops being unnecessarily physical, but I didn't feel like he was out of line.

They are being so violent towards the cop and your right bratling it was just one punch not a bunch. Hes trying to stop her and they keep trying to get away and everybody is just watching the cop and going Oh My. He had a good reason to punch her, the women jolted at him and shes a big women she could tackle him down.

If all four girls were jaywalking why was only one being arrested? The cop went to far if he was to get hit or tackled then he should use his stun gun at max or some pepper spray, after she touched the cop and tried to stop the arrest in progress both girls should have been arrested. I don't see any need for the physical violence here.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Violent

If all four girls were jaywalking why was only one being arrested? The cop went to far if he was to get hit or tackled then he should use his stun gun at max or some pepper spray, after she touched the cop and tried to stop the arrest in progress both girls should have been arrested. I don't see any need for the physical violence here.

---

Honestly I'd rather get punched then get pepper sprayed or stun gunned. THAT would be too far if you ask me. And he -did- as I understand it arrest the other one, that was -resisting- arrest. He wasn't only trying to arrest one. You don't arrest people for jay-walking. I'm pretty sure he was writing tickets and the girls got mouthy, tried to leave and got physical. (I only saw a small soundless clip of the girl getting physical and the cop punching her and trying to shake off the other girl.) Like a lot of ignorant teenagers do.

People often talk with attitude to the police. I don't get it. Perhaps it is false bravado or rebellion against authority. I am all for the police laying a disrespectful idiot out. Do you have a link where we can view the footage?

The footage is the first line beast and yes I agree when the police lay some people out for being idiots im glad. That girl was trying to run away and hes just trying to say stay then everybody is trying to help the girl get away.

Yeah, the link is the first line of the post.

@ Violent... I don't think jaywalking is an arrest worthy offense. Had those girls not have thrown such a fit, they likely would have been warned and left alone... Or ticketed at most.
I think the cop was a bit flustered, and trying to show out as opposed to being made a fool of by these women who apparently feel like they are above being stopped by a cop. He was being a bit of an ass-hat... but he was put in that position.