Earlier this month a motorist recorded video of a California Highway Patrol officer using force against a woman while she was on the ground in an effort to restrain her, leaving many to speculate that it was an example of police brutality.
The incident, which was recorded on July 1 on Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles, shows an officer punching 51-year-old Marlene Pinnock in the face and body.
CHP is now investigating to determine whether the force was justified against Pinnock, who was said to be ambling down the freeway endangering herself and drivers on the freeway.
“This is one of the most significant events of my 34-year career that I’ve ever dealt with,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow to reporters a little over a week ago. “We’ve never seen this before.”
“The whole issue … comes down to what happened when the encounter got into a physical altercation,” Farrow continued. “What was the cause for (the officer) to use force? And that’s where we are right now.”
As of last week, Pinnock remained in a hospital under a psychiatric hold. Her family was dismayed to find her bruised and battered.
“I’m just so overwhelmed,” daughter Maisha Allums told The Associated Press Tuesday, July 8. “I can’t believe a CHP officer that was supposed to protect my mom and help my mom beat her like a — I can’t even say like a dog because if it was a dog getting beat like that he would have been in jail.”