Elizabeth, N.J. Police Investigate Video Which Shows Officer Punching Woman
ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- As bar patrons wrapped up a night of clubbing this past Saturday, a woman found herself at the receiving end of a direct hit by an Elizabeth police officer.
As in a punch right in the face.
A cell phone video was recorded by a witness who asked not to be identified.
"I was very shocked, very shocked that a cop would hit a woman like that. And I was disappointed because that's an authority figure," the witness told CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez on Wednesday.
The witness said several fights broke out as club-goers exited Club Envy on North Broad Street. The melee spilled onto the sidewalk outside the Wells Fargo bank across the street. The police officer is seen pushing a man to the ground and a woman steps in telling the officer not to hit the man.
The witness said the officer seen punching the woman in the face was one of at least three police officers trying to control the crowd. She said the unidentified woman was drunk, but didn't appear to be a threat to the officer.
"I don't think he was in danger, not at all. And there was two more cops to the right that were Macing people. He could have easily asked one of them to come over here," the witness said.
CBS 2's Sanchez reached out to the Elizabeth Police Department multiple times, but officials did not respond to her request for comment.
The mayor of Elizabeth would only say the matter is still under investigation by Internal Affairs.
The police officer remains on active duty.
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