- A California police officer was captured in a cellphone video punching a woman during an arrest.
- The unidentified Westminister police officer was placed on paid leave, police said.
- The Orange County DA's office will determine if the officer will be charged.
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Viral cellphone video shows the moment when Westminister, California police officers intervened after their colleague punched a 34-year-old woman twice during an arrest.
According to a news release from the Westminister police department, on Wednesday afternoon, April 21, officers responded to a report of an assault against a woman "who tried to rescue a dog running in the street."
According to the news release, when officers arrived at the scene, they detained Garcia, who had an outstanding bench warrant for vandalism. Police said that during the arrest, Garcia "exhibited signs of being under the influence" and then "became combative with the officers."
-KTLA (@KTLA) April 23, 2021
"They just, like, get her up and like they just push her back down," Sandy Armento, the witness who captured the cellphone video, told CBS Los Angeles. "I think she got hurt so she like started obviously being aggressive."
Armento told KTLA that the unidentified officer punched Garcia after she "kicked him once."
"While trying to control Garcia, a WPD officer used force and struck Garcia two times in the face with his fist," police said in the news release said. "Two WPD officers immediately intervened and deescalated the situation."
Garcia was transported to a local hospital, then Orange County Jail for the warrant, police said.
According to the news release, police submitted charges for Garia to the Orange County District Attorney's office, including resisting arrest, assault on an officer, and under the influence of a controlled substance.
The officer is on paid leave amid an internal investigation into the incident, and the district attorney's office will determine if the officer will be charged, according to the news release.