A criminal investigation is underway after a "disturbing" video shows a Sacramento police officer punching a jaywalker in the face.
Yesterday the Police Department released dash-cam footage from the officer's patrol car, but it was a neighbor's cellphone video of the incident that went viral and sparked anger.
A statement from the Sacramento Police Department read:
“The actions of the involved Sacramento police officer are disturbing and do not appear to be reasonable based upon the circumstances. The Sacramento Police Department holds itself to the highest professional standard and the actions that were observed are not indicative of the dedicated women and men who work for the Department.”
Police said the officer tried to stop the jaywalker, Nandi Cain Jr., but he ignored the officer's command to stop and walked away.
The two began to argue in the street. Cain allegedly questioned the officer's reason for stopping him and challenged the officer to a fight.
“The officer charged at the pedestrian to take him into custody. For an unknown reason, the officer threw the pedestrian to the ground and began striking him in the face with his hand multiple times.”
The officer's name hasn't been released, and he's been placed on leave.