Body camera video from the controversial arrest of a woman in southwest Charlotte last month was released Tuesday morning by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Video of the arrest was shared widely on social media because an officer could be seen repeatedly punching a woman while other officers held her to the the ground. For the first time Tuesday, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings announced one officer would face disciplinary action following the incident.
As seen in the initial video shared on social media, the body camera video shows an officer repeatedly striking Pierre in the thigh as officers hold her to the ground. CMPD previously said the punching of a person in the thigh is standard protocol when an officer is trying to restrain a person who is resisting arrest. Additional officers can be seen trying to keep a growing crowd of witnesses away.
Hours after the videos were released Tuesday, Jennings talked with reporters at police headquarters.
“Fourteen strikes to the female’s leg came after her hands were behind her back," Jennings said. "These strikes were not deemed justified. If the officer made an assessment after three leg strikes, he would have seen that they were effective, and the female’s hands were behind her back."
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