For the second time in less than a month, an El Paso police officer was captured on video punching a woman during an arrest.
Two officers are shown in the video escorting a handcuffed woman out of a clothing shop on Yandell Drive in Central El Paso on Wednesday, April 22. A woman police officer punched the woman in custody in the face, allegedly after the woman spat at the officer.
The video went viral online after it was shared by social media outlet TheRealFitFamElPaso.
“The El Paso Police Department is aware of a video circulating on social media involving a use-of-force encounter between an officer and a person in custody. Per standard procedure, all applications of force are reviewed,” a statement released by the El Paso Police Department stated.
“We recognize that Use of Force incidents can evoke sentiments or concerns. Each situation warrants careful assessment and consideration, to maintain balance when it comes to the safety of our public and our officers. We remain dedicated to the collective responsibility we share in ensuring public trust through committed service.”
El Paso Police Department spokesman Officer Adrian Cisneros identified the woman being arrested as Regina Viramontes. She was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana, harassment of a public servant, resisting arrest search or transport, evading arrest or detention, and on outstanding traffic warrants.
She was booked into the El Paso County jail on Wednesday, April 23, on a bond totaling $6,600, jail records show. She remains jailed as of Friday, April 24, jail logs show.
No attorney is named in court records for Viramontes.
Video shows El Paso officer punching woman
The edited video is only 29 seconds long and starts in the middle of the altercation between the woman and two El Paso police officers.
A female officer is seen with a male officer trying to place a woman in handcuffs inside a clothing store. The woman appears to be resisting arrest by not putting her hands behind her back. The officers throw the woman to the floor as the male officer tells her to put her hands behind her back.
The woman is placed in handcuffs and escorted out of the store by the two officers. Outside of the store, the woman allegedly spat at the female officer. It is difficult to see in the video whether the woman spat on the officer.
The female officer is seen throwing four punches, hitting the woman in the face. The female officer tells the woman, “No ma’am! No ma’am!” The woman is pushed against a wall, and the video ends.
Second video in April showing officers punching woman
This is the second video of an El Paso officer punching a woman in the face to go viral online.
A video was posted online showing officers executing an arrest warrant for Kelcee Renee Hufford, 28, on a charge of assault causing bodily injury involving family violence on April 1 at a house in the 600 block of East Rio Grande Avenue in Central El Paso.
El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas said an investigation into the punch of Hufford showed no wrongdoing by his officer. He added that his officers acted in accordance with departmental policies and did not use excessive force.
Hufford appears to be resisting arrest as several officers attempt to place her in handcuffs. As she is lying on the floor inside the house, an officer, identified only as A. Tavera in the criminal complaint, then punches the woman in the face.
The woman is eventually arrested and booked into the El Paso County jail on charges of assault causing bodily injury involving family violence and resisting arrest, search or transport.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: New video shows El Paso officer punching woman in face during arrest
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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