The California Highway Patrol says it’s currently investigating a violent incident in which one of its officers was caught on tape repeatedly punching a pinned down woman on the side of a Los Angeles freeway.
According to authorities, the woman had been walking on Interstate 10 of downtown Los Angeles, endangering herself and passengers in traffic, and the officer was trying to restrain her. She had reportedly began walking off the freeway but returned when the confrontation occurred.
In the video, the woman can be seen pinned down and trying to sit up while the officer punches her in the face and head. An off-duty law enforcement officer eventually stepped in to help handcuff the woman.
“He agitated the situation more than helped it,” said David Diaz, a driver who recorded the incident and shared the video with several media outlets. He told The Associated Press the woman was walking off the freeway, but turned around only after the officer shouted something to her.
The unidentified officer has been placed on administrative leave while authorities investigate the matter. An incident report listed no injuries for the woman. She has refused to give her name and is undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
Check out the disturbing footage after the jump.
Photo courtesy of /Getty Images