THE U IS BACK BABY pic.twitter.com/EtxdOmWr6Z
— 5th Year (@5thYear) November 5, 2017
A female University of Miami fan got out of hand during a college football game over the weekend, and an officer blasted her with a punch to the face in response, leading to an internal investigation.
In the video above, the woman who was identified by authorities as 30-year-old nurse Bridget Freitas can be seen being carried away by multiple officers. While they’re dragging her up off, she swats at one of the cops, hitting him in the face with the back of her open hand. The cop immediately turns around and punches her directly in the face with a closed fist, seemingly knocking her out cold, as she collapses backwards into the arms of other officers.
According to CBS Miami, cops were first called to the scene because Freitas allegedly was causing a disturbance by yelling and cursing at other fans. Police claim that she refused to move, which is why they carried her out.
In addition to getting hit by the punch, Freitas was also hit with criminal charges for her disorderly conduct and striking an officer.
Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta stated that the incident is under investigation to determine if the officer violated department policies. While officers are generally permitted to use force when necessary, a light backhand from a woman who is already being forcibly taken away wouldn’t necessarily be deemed a threat worthy of a retaliatory punch.
In a statement, Zabaleta said:
Promoting a safe and secure environment during any special event is our primary concern. After responding to a disturbance, the person in the video was being removed from the event by our officers for being disorderly. She was subsequently arrested for Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Disorderly Conduct/Breach of the peace. Supervisory personnel are aware of the video and are reviewing the incident to ensure compliance with our policies and procedures.
