The officer's incident report says the barefoot woman was walking alongside the freeway and refused his commands to stop. He wrote that for her safety he arrested her. During the arrest he claims she resisted.
David Diaz filmed the incident from his car and disagrees with the officer.
"If you're trying to protect her then what's this beating in the head for?"
Diaz said to CBS News. Diaz added that he didn't see the woman resisting arrest or holding a weapon. He believes she was either intoxicated or mentally ill.
"He basically got on top of her … it's basically a UFC ground-and-pound move … full force, punching her in the head," Diaz told KTLA.
The woman doesn't punch the officer back and attempts to cover up while he continues to swing. An off duty officer then runs up to assist. The woman was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. There's been no official word on her condition.
"We're looking at every possibility, every fact, every circumstance that has contributed to this situation and we're gonna try to come to a just conclusion," CHP Assistant Chief Chris O'Quinn said at a news conference on Friday, July 4th.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 1st. The names of the officer and the woman have not been released to the public.
