Seattle cop punches woman in face over routine jaywalking stop

[howbouthemspurs]

Seattle cop punches woman in face over routine jaywalking stop (VIDEO)

BY MICHAEL SHERIDAN
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, June 16th 2010, 8:57 AM


Woman who was punched in face by cop after getting into arguement over a jaywalking stop was captured on video.
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A woman took a fist to the face by a cop, all over a jaywalking stop.

Investigators in Seattle are reviewing the incident, which was captured on video.

Things began when an unnamed police officer spotted a teen jaywalking across Martin Lurther King Jr. Way South around 3:10 p.m., according to a report on the Seattle Police Department Web site.

When he approached the 18-year-old male, the officer witnessed four women do the same thing at the same spot on the road, about 15 feet from a pedestrian crosswalk.

"The officer instructed the females to step over to his vehicle," officials said. "They were verbally antagonistic."

When one of the women, a 19-year-old, began to walk away, the officer approached her and escorted her back.

"The female subject began to tense up her arm and pull away from the officer while yelling at him," police said.

The two argued, and the officer attempted to cuff her. That is when, according to officials, another of the women interceded.

"The second female subject placed her hands on the officer’s arm, causing the officer to believe she was attempting to physically affect the first subject’s escape," police said.

A crowd had gathered around the officer at the time, and another witness captured much of the altercation on video.

As the officer and the 17-year-old struggled with one another, the woman can be seen pushing the officer, who then responds by punching her in the face.

The crowd reacted with shock, and a voice is heard saying, "Are you serious?!"

Someone pulled the 17-year-old away, and the police officer proceeds to try and handcuff the 19-year-old.

"Do not struggle," the cop orders the woman during the video.

Back-up eventually arrived, police said, at which time the woman who was punched was handcuffed. She was later examined by medical personnel.

"You obviously have to take into context everything that occurred from the point that the officer did make contact with the individuals until the situation ended," said Deputy Chief Nick Metz to King 5 News.

Metz noted there was some "concerns about the tactics the officer used."

"There will be a thorough investigation into this incident," said Seattle Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, according to Komo News.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/06/16/2010-06-16_seattle_cop_punches_woman_in_face_over_routine_ jaywalking_stop.html#ixzz0r1SDsNTL


Some people think they could just say anything to police and walk away. This girl was obviously unruly and disrespectful in the first place.Yes I know it was just a jaywalking violation and that didnt warrant the cop to hit her.. But that wasnt the reason he hit her. She tried to run away and her friend was helping her. So I think she was just asking for it.. though if it was me i wouldnt have hit her.

any thoughts?

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Girl in black top was resisting and girl in pink assualted cop twice. Cop shouldn't have hit her............................................... but I understand. I guess Al and Jesse have a job now.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I've got no problem with the cop. The two women were resisting and the one that got punched put her hands on the cop. She deserved it.

WHen exactly did people start believing they can do whatever they want around police and not get in trouble? The sad thing is, if the dude had pulled out the tazer, he'd be criticized for that too.

Having said that, dude should really go back to the academy. If a woman gives him that much trouble, imagine a man...

[JMarkJohns]

Having said that, dude should really go back to the academy. If a woman gives him that much trouble, imagine a man...

Yeah. I was initially thinking he was trying to go easy on how he was handling the one woman. Maybe he still was, but after that sock to the face, it's hard to think this anymore.

While the tazer would have brought criticism, I think it wouldn't have been as "shocking" as what was caught on video. Seeing a white cop punch a black teen girl was, despite the context, pretty jaw-dropping.

[Bender]

for me, the video says "removed"

[JMarkJohns]

Where's the taze, bro?!

[JMarkJohns]

For those who can't see it.
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D51Vs37VfSY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D51Vs37VfSY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

I guess he was serious.

She got clocked for being stupid.

I approve.

[BlackSwordsMan]

lol@ the coward in the back yelling ''lets smash this dude''

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Tricky thread titles! Here I was thinking that the cop just socked someone out of the blue for jaywalking, which would have been hilarious. This isn't quite so cut and dry. I don't have sound on but I can't say I'm really in shock of what went down. It's a little jarring to see a man punching a woman in any context, but you've got a cop in a two on one situation that's escalating in physicality. Not too surprising.

[Slydragon]

She should have stayed back, OMG!! he hit me and he is white, bet her black man beats her ass harder than that during sex.

[stretch]

Tricky thread titles! Here I was thinking that the cop just socked someone out of the blue for jaywalking, which would have been hilarious. This isn't quite so cut and dry. I don't have sound on but I can't say I'm really in shock of what went down. It's a little jarring to see a man punching a woman in any context, but you've got a cop in a two on one situation that's escalating in physicality. Not too surprising.

I was pretty much going to post the same thing. I was ready to see an amusing video of a woman getting decked in the face as soon as she reached the other side, but this was completely different.

punching win :king

[JamStone]

I think context is very important with an incident like this.

Would have no problem if this happened after those girls were beating up another girl or if they were caught robbing a store or some shit like this.

It's important to note that all of this was preceded by the cop stopping them for JAYWALKING.

The girl in pink is stupid for pushing the cop and thinking it's all right to fight him. But, what the hell is the cop thinking?

[rjv]

what make anyone think they can just walk away from an officer ? technically, jaywalking merits a ticket and if she ignores his request to comply she opens up a can of worms. she complicated the matter even further by getting even more antagonistic.

now the question is: would he have stopped any jaywalker? this is usually an offense that goes completely ignored unless it is egregious.

[JamStone]

Lol stupid embedded disabled per request people...

NXoL8Pq6lUw

[JMarkJohns]

what make anyone think they can just walk away from an officer ? technically, jaywalking merits a ticket and if she ignores his request to comply she opens up a can of worms. she complicated the matter even further by getting even more antagonistic.

now the question is: would he have stopped any jaywalker? this is usually an offense that goes completely ignored unless it is egregious.

On jaywalking, it's something that needs much more attention than it gets. I live in Flagstaff, Arizona, and there's at least five deaths and dozens of accidents stemming from jaywalking/cycling per year. I myself am a very careful driver and have narrowly avoided hitting at least two cyclists and a very stupid mother pushing a stroller across five lanes of traffic at the base of a curving hill at night.

I have no idea what the great jaywalking context is for Seattle, but the article notes these women were within a short distance from a crosswalk, and, also, that the officer saw them while citing another jaywalker.

Too often, people step out from in between vehicles parked along the street and as a driver, you just don't have the time to react. It's a very dangerous and unnecessary action that deserves as many fines as their are actions.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

On jaywalking, it's something that needs much more attention than it gets. I live in Flagstaff, Arizona, and there's at least five deaths and dozens of accidents stemming from jaywalking/cycling per year. I myself am a very careful driver and have narrowly avoided hitting at least two cyclists and a very stupid mother pushing a stroller across five lanes of traffic at the base of a curving hill at night.

I have no idea what the great jaywalking context is for Seattle, but the article notes these women were within a short distance from a crosswalk, and, also, that the officer saw them while citing another jaywalker.

Too often, people step out from in between vehicles parked along the street and as a driver, you just don't have the time to react. It's a very dangerous and unnecessary action that deserves as many fines as their are actions.

With the texting/everyone needing to be on the phone at all times age we're in, it's only going to get worse.

The funny thing is that more people get drilled in crosswalks than they do jaywalking because they pay even less attention between the white lines.

[Soul_Patch]

what if it had been a dude that went after the cop, rather than a girl? Would it be OK to punch?

My reaction is that cop needs to go back to cop school if he cant subdue a small teenage girl quicker than that...Also, if i where him, the big girl in pink would have gotten pepper sprayed, rather than punched, but the punch seem'd to do the job, so who am i to say.

[ploto]

If 2 guys were doing the exact same thing to a cop, would you have an issue if he punched one of them? Should not matter that she is female.

[JMarkJohns]

With the texting/everyone needing to be on the phone at all times age we're in, it's only going to get worse.

The funny thing is that more people get drilled in crosswalks than they do jaywalking because they pay even less attention between the white lines.

I'm sure you're right. While it likely happens just as, if not more frequently, I can't think of a single crosswalk death in Flagstaff. Maybe they aren't as publicized? All I know is every day on my drive home I see a minimum of three violations, mostly cyclists, but many walkers, and I have witnessed at least four accidents stemming from the violators. I have never witnessed an accident from crosswalkers or involving crosswalkers.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

what if it had been a dude that went after the cop, rather than a girl? Would it be OK to punch? I don't think it wouldve been. The cop shouldve restrained anybody instead of attacked...................but I understand.

[mrsmaalox]

Pretty extreme reactions on both sides. But resisting/assaulting a cop is never a good idea.

Trainwreck2100 must be off somewhere writhing in ecstasy ;)

[Leetonidas]

I approve of this video. I hate when women think they can be all physical with men like we can't do anything. I wouldn't punch a woman, but I think if I was in certain situations, I might have to slap a bitch...just like this man:

3FgMLROTqJ0

:lmao

[Chomag]

One thing is for sure. That girl will now forever think twice about pushing a police officer.

A bit excessive for just jaywalking however she would not have been punched had she not put her hands on the officer in the line of duty. Plain and simple. You act stupid there is consequences.

[Fpoonsie]

Agreed w/ seemingly all the people in here. She (or her friend) could've just as easily tried to reach for his gun, succeeded, and then we've got an entirely different story (w/ a slightly less funny vid).

[desflood]

She got clocked for being stupid.

I approve.
:tu

[Kriz-Maxima]

He should have tazed her after the punch.

[SpursStalker]

I think the face punch was a little much, but he should have been calling for backup since it was clear that he did not have the situation under control.

Did she deserve it, probably. I'm certain the "race card" will be played.

[Sisk]

Did she deserve it, probably. I'm certain the "race card" will be played.

For sure it will. Fucked up part is she'll probably win a decent settlement from the State.
:bang

[IceColdBrewski]

uj0mtxXEGE8

[Trainwreck2100]

Pretty extreme reactions on both sides. But resisting/assaulting a cop is never a good idea.

Trainwreck2100 must be off somewhere writhing in ecstasy ;)


I thought the hangover was hilarious, it doesn't mean watching it made me writhe in ecstacy.

[DarrinS]

Would the thought ever enter your mind that you should become physical with a cop?


By the way, that guy really struggled with handcuffing one girl. WTF?

[Trainwreck2100]

Would the thought ever enter your mind that you should become physical with a cop?


By the way, that guy really struggled with handcuffing one girl. WTF?

it was like 1 on 12 he did a good job not escalating while he could

[JMarkJohns]

Would the thought ever enter your mind that you should become physical with a cop?


By the way, that guy really struggled with handcuffing one girl. WTF?

I think he easily could have broken her "tensed up" arm lock, but then we'd be discussing the brutality of a police officer punching one girl and breaking the arms of another. He was doing what he could with pressure points, it appeared, but yes, he did struggle.

[JudynTX]

:lol @ jaywalking. Pffft, I do it all the time downtown, in front of cops too.

[DMX7]

She should have stayed back, OMG!! he hit me and he is white, bet her black man beats her ass harder than that during sex.

...and when he wants a sandwich.

[Trainwreck2100]

...and when he wants a sandwich.

............and when his welfare check is late

[Sisk]

............and when his welfare check is late

:lol

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

...found court records that show Levias has been arrested for assaulting a police officer before. According to court documents, Levias kicked a King County Sheriff's deputy in the stomach while she resisted arrest at the Ruth Dykeman Center in Burien.

Shocking, right?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Shocking, right?

yeah, who would have guessed?

[PM5K]

It's important to note that all of this was preceded by the cop stopping them for JAYWALKING.

I don't think that's important to note at all.

[DarkReign]

Usually, I am 100% skeptical of all cops.

This is one of those rare situations where this cop was totally justified. Why a closed fist? Dont know, but it certainly got the point across and stopped her interference, so I say, sound strategy.

[howbouthemspurs]

Its just too bad that it was shot on tape.. it really made him look like a jack ass. No one really knows what they would do in that situation until it actually happens. These two crazy women made things it harder than it could've been.

[PM5K]

Here's what I said elsewhere:

For all we know this officer may have wanted to simply let these ladies know that it's unlawful and dangerous to cross the street at an unmarked area.

Regardless these ladies thought they could ignore this police officer, which they can't, and when someone tries to pull something like this over such a small infraction it's sometimes because they have drugs, weapons, or outstanding warrants, once this officer engages these people he can't just walk away and let them do whatever they want simply because the infraction was just jaywalking.

I don't know that he did everything exactly as Seattle PD would have wanted him to, but I'm not outraged at all that he punched that woman, and it seemed to be fairly effective because afterwards she was standing a good twenty feet away and didn't interfere again.

[Mavs_man_41]

cop shouldn't have been out harassing young blacks for something as silly as jaywalking..and why did he have his hands on her before the tape even started? chick is stupid for resisting and you can't do that, she'll surely be charged with resisting arrest, but the cop was acting like a douche throughout the whole ordeal. if this happened in dallas the cop would have been beaten.

[MannyIsGod]

Cops who have time to sit there and get groups of people for jaywalking are cops who obviously have too much time on their hands.

[Scola]

I'm on the cops side in this particular case.
From the video you could tell they had an attitude problem and were clearly ignoring instructions, resisting arrest, and being difficult. You don't argue with a cop, if you think that he was wrong you get a lawyer or appeal in court later. Resisting/Fighting with an officer can lead to getting punched or tazed. Ideally cops should be trained to take someone down without excessive force, but when hes outnumber or the situation is escalating force has to be used.

[duhoh]

those girls were idiots, but the cop should've grabbed back-up

[baseline bum]

You can't go pushing cops just because they're citing your friend for something, even if your friend is a dumbass who starts getting into it with them and gets her ass arrested for it. The punch was well-deserved. The ticket was kind of stupid, but after that I have no problem with what the cop did. If someone is up pushing and getting up in the cops face, it's perfectly reasonable to think he's going to get hit, and act in self-defense. I agree that pepper spray would be the best option here though, since the pepper spray would have incapacitated her and made sure there wasn't a punch back.

[dolacheck]

Well I can say she definitely deserved to be punched in the face. You don't go around pushing cops, that's just plain dumb. Second, I don't think he had time to get his pepper spray/ tazer out, he just reacted as quick as possible. He had every right to punch her in the face, chick should have told her friend to just calm down. Ignorant ppl

[Blake]

It appears to me the cop is trying his best to get her in cuffs as best as possible without as much as giving her a bruise. He is fully aware that he has an audience.

My blame goes on the police department for having just one guy out doing jaywalk duty.

and lmao at all the idiots just standing there filming with their camera phones

[Vici]

if this happened in dallas the cop would have been beaten.

Which is exactly why he punched her to diffuse the situation before it escalated even more.

[EmptyMan]

Are you serious
Are you serious









Are you serious

[Mavs_man_41]

Which is exactly why he punched her to diffuse the situation before it escalated even more.

i meant beaten for punching the chick. seen it happen many times, just bum rush the po po and he never had a chance..

doing something like that, while maybe warranted, was probably a bit over the top and could have escalated the situation worse causing bystanders to jump in and attack him.

[ALWAYS bet on BLACK]

if this happened in dallas the cop would have been beaten.


would you shut the fuck up about dallas hood shit. for fucks sake, dallas is full of old ass blue haired women and honky ass southern oklahoma ten gallon cowboy hat wearing cuckolds

a dallas "nigga" would get his ass bitch slapped by any dude in the 3rd ward of houston or even a high school future inmate of the bexar county jail walking down marbach in san antonio.

dallas is so fucking weak, you stupid piece of oak cliffe shit.

[Mavs_man_41]

would you shut the fuck up about dallas hood shit. for fucks sake, dallas is full of old ass blue haired women and honky ass southern oklahoma ten gallon cowboy hat wearing cuckolds

a dallas "nigga" would get his ass bitch slapped by any dude in the 3rd ward of houston or even a high school future inmate of the bexar county jail walking down marbach in san antonio.

dallas is so fucking weak, you stupid piece of oak cliffe shit.

:lmao wasn't it you going around before the playoffs talking about "dallas gonna dboogie on that north mexico ass?" ya fuckin pussy, talk shit on my hood but you know dallas has some of the hardest niggas in the game, like it or not tough shit busta.

[ALWAYS bet on BLACK]

Yes, because the hardest niggas use the word busta.
the only good that ever came out of dallas was the who shot JR drama.
aside from that, TO shitting on the star was nice also.

[Mavs_man_41]

only a busta would scoff the word "busta".. i'm sure you've been called that a lot before haven't ya nigga?

only a weak motherfucker randomly comments about another niggas hood unprovoked, and especially uninformed, you lookin like an ass right now nigga

[ALWAYS bet on BLACK]

only a busta would scoff the word "busta".. i'm sure you've been called that a lot before haven't ya nigga?

only a weak motherfucker randomly comments about another niggas hood unprovoked, and especially uninformed, you lookin like an ass right now nigga
KXZIs72xSE8

[ALWAYS bet on BLACK]

BVqjcZVMAuQ

[Slydragon]

Are you serious
Are you serious









Are you serious

Call da amber lance

[PuttPutt]

The ENTIRE story at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012122660_coppunch16m.html

A little info from the article of what happened during & after the incedent

According to police, Walsh, working in a patrol car, saw several people jaywalking on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, just south of Rainier Avenue South, despite a nearby pedestrian overpass.
Walsh tried to stop a group of females when one woman, later identified as Levias, began walking away, according to an incident report.
Walsh told Levias she must identify herself so he could issue her a citation or she would face arrest for obstruction, the report said. Levias continued to walk away, prompting Walsh to grab her upper arm with his right hand, the report said.
At that point, Levias said something like "get the [expletive] off me," tensed her body and began to resist, the report said.
Walsh placed her upper body on the hood of his patrol car in trying to handcuff her. Levias began twisting around and pulled away, ignoring Walsh's command to stop resisting as she continued to struggle with him.
While Walsh tried to handcuff Levias, Rosenthal, the 17-year-old, approached Walsh, grabbing and pushing him. Walsh responded by punching Rosenthal.
Levias was arrested for allegedly obstructing an officer, a gross misdemeanor. Rosenthal was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault on an officer, a felony.

[BlackSwordsMan]

lol

[Stringer_Bell]

lol@ the coward in the back yelling ''lets smash this dude''

For real. I bet if those punks jumped the cop and beat his ass, THIS video would not have shown up. I'm surprised at how many people have more or less sided with the police officer in this case...it was a hostile environment and other than the punch he tried to keep it as cool as possible.

As for the jaywalking offense, I was initially skeptical because 1) it's such a minor thing 2) I thought it was a rent-a-cop and not a REAL cop in a REAL cop car that you just shouldn't fuck with or ignore. It looked like a busy street and they could have caused an accident. Plus, that bitch dressed in black is screaming out "nigga, nigga, nigga" like a real educated, upstanding, and civil member of the African-American community.

[BRHornet45]

should have killed both of them

[JMarkJohns]

Are you serious
Are you serious









Are you serious

Dude sounded like Reggie Miller.

[ALWAYS bet on BLACK]

BOYZ IN THE HOOD
Tre Styles (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000421/): I didn't do nothing.
Officer Coffey (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0272481/): You think you tough?
[pulls gun on Tre]
Officer Coffey (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0272481/): Scared now, ain't you? I like that. That's why I took this job. I hate little motherfuckers like you. Little ######s, you ain't shit! I could blow your head off with this Smith & Wesson and you couldn't do shit. Think you tough? What set you from? Look like one of them Crenshaw mafia motherfuckers.
Share this quote (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101507/quotes?qt0245787)
I also like this scene at the 6:50 mark (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101507/quotes?qt0245787)


"It's too bad you didn't him, there's be one less nigga out here in the street we have to worry about."

nKDEBw3mSr4 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101507/quotes?qt0245787)

(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101507/quotes?qt0245787)

[PuttPutt]

Busy area of Seattle traffic-wise. And they don't take jaywalking lightly (obviously). All 3 parties made dumb mistakes.
1) shouldn't have jaywalked.
2) shouldn't have ignored the cop
3) shouldn't have pushed the cop
4) cop shouldn't have punched (should've tasered her dumb ass for assulting an officer)
5) shouldn't have been caught on video.

[sabar]

Deserved it, you can't attack a cop without consequences. These people are trained to instantly open fire if a suspect is drawing a firearm. They're lucky they didn't get electricity or a bullet.

[JMarkJohns]

Busy area of Seattle traffic-wise. And they don't take jaywalking lightly (obviously). All 3 parties made dumb mistakes.
1) shouldn't have jaywalked.
2) shouldn't have ignored the cop
3) shouldn't have pushed the cop
4) cop shouldn't have punched (should've tasered her dumb ass for assulting an officer)
5) shouldn't have been caught on video.

You can't avoid being recorded anymore. With everyone having a camcorder on their phone anymore, some states are passing laws that makes the act of recording an officer a crime. For reasons sort of like this one. For the first minute+, all you saw was the girl yelling shit and resisting. Had there been no punch, the video still would have wound up on youtube.

I don't agree with the law, but I understand that it's impossible not to get recorded anymore.

[Oh, Gee!!]

he could have easily placed her under arrest with little to no force. he overreacted

[Chief]

The states are fuckin overpoliced, man u can't have peace of mind while just stepping out of your house, u get tickets for fuckin breathing, jaywalk ? come on man, fuck

I did not realize how overpoliced it is there till I came down to costa rica, cops don't bother you for shit.

[TheMACHINE]

My reaction is that cop needs to go back to cop school if he cant subdue a small teenage girl quicker than that...

if you think this, then do you think the cop shoulda been rougher to subdue her quickly? Other then the punch, the cop was pretty easy on the girl. If he really wanted to subdue her he shoulda picked her up and slammed her to the floor. lol