Disturbing footage posted online documents the moment an Ohio cop punches a woman multiple times in the face while she is being detained.
The video, originally published Tuesday night by Dayton 24/7 Now, shows a Butler Township police officer beating a Latina Hancock on Jan. 16 and apparently putting her in a chokehold.
Hancock was reportedly sent to hospital afterwards where she was diagnosed with a head injury.
The incident apparently happened after Hancock got into a heated argument with McDonald’s employees because she ordered a Big Mac with extra cheese but was given a regular Big Mac.
Authorities released body camera footage showing Hancock apparently cooperating with authorities before she was hit.
The department will now continue to investigate the actions of the officer, who is now on administrative leave, as her attorneys call for him to be fired.
A video posted online shows the moment an Ohio police officer repeatedly punches a woman in the head
A minute-long video of the altercation shows officers dragging Hancock by her arms as she tries to break free.
He then appears to get into an argument with officers at the scene, waving his arm around as he speaks to them.
At this point, the officer on the left could be seen apparently aiming a stun gun at her as he and his partner moved in to flank Hancock.
The officer on the right appears to be trying to hold her arm and shoulder before he begins brutally punching Hancock in the face at least four times until she falls forward onto the hood of a police car.
The Butler Township Police Department announced Tuesday evening that it was investigating the incident.
“We are aware of a bystander video circulating on Facebook regarding an incident that occurred on January 16, 2023, involving two of our employees,” it said.
“This incident is currently being investigated in accordance with department policies and procedures as is the case when force is used in an arrest,” he continued.
By Wednesday afternoon, the police department had released body camera footage showing cops talking to Hancock before the fight.
They say she initially cooperated with law enforcement, WDTN reports, but then refused to provide her name and was arrested for resisting arrest.
The sergeant involved has since been placed on paid administrative leave.
The video begins with police officers apparently dragging Latina Hancock to their police car on January 16
They end up surrounding her with the officer on the left apparently pointing a stun gun at the woman while the officer on the right holds her down before starting to punch her in the face
Authorities say the sergeant has since been placed on administrative leave as Butler Township police continue to investigate
At an emotional press conference Wednesday night, the Latina shared her story publicly for the first time as she broke down in tears.
She said she ordered a Big Mac with extra cheese from the drive-thru on Martin Luther King Day when she noticed there was no extra cheese on it, even though she paid the extra 30 cents.
Hancock then went to the store to correct it, and the manager agreed, she said. But when the manager asked the line cook to add cheese to the burger, Hancock said she was told she would have to pay an additional 30 cents.
She said she then argued, showing the line cook the receipt detailing how she had already paid for the extra cheese, when the line cook became angry and asked her to leave.
Hancock then said she decided to wait for her burger in the parking lot, where police confronted her.
“All I wanted from this woman was to follow the instructions that I didn’t give her, but her manager,” Hancock said Wednesday night, explaining, “I either want the sandwich or my money.
“Did I know I was going to be attacked? No, she said, explaining that she only stayed to let the cops help us figure it out.
“I almost lost my life to this,” she said as she began to cry.
Hancock said she remembers thinking, “I’m not going to be George Floyd, you’re not going to throw me to the ground.”
Hancock was shaken and tearful as she recounted the experience Wednesday night
Her attorney, Michael Wright, is calling on the police department to fire the officer involved
Her lawyers with Wright and Schulte say they will now conduct their own investigation as they called for the employees to be fired.
Attorney Michael Wright noted that police “didn’t do anything or look into any of this until the video went viral.”
He said he is calling for more videos detailing the incident, including those from inside the McDonald’s, as well as dispatch information.
“Nothing about it was reasonable,” he said. “That was inappropriate.”
Add Comment