A recent encounter between New Castle County police and a woman, captured in a viral video, is now being scrutinized for potential excessive use of force. According to FOX29, the incident took place after a police officer noticed the woman's vehicle committing several traffic violations on Saturday, June 29 near Walther Road and Pulaski Highway.
The officer ran a check which confirmed that the car's registration was suspended, and without insurance, an old bullet hole also marked with police evidence was spotted on the driver's door. Subsequently, after driving some distance, the woman stopped in the parking lot of a Royal Farms on Pulaski Highway, where the situation escalated as she reportedly refused to step out of the vehicle when demanded by the officer, as stated by PHL17.
Additional footage of the arrest, released and reviewed by 6abc, shows what ensued as a back-and-forth between the driver and the police officer turned into a physical confrontation that brought multiple officers to the scene. About four to five minutes into the video, officers are seen trying to get the woman to the ground, culminating in an officer punching her head multiple times. During the scuffle, an officer can be heard exclaiming, "She's got my foot, let go of my foot!"
The incident is now under thorough investigation, and the New Castle County Police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward. While public outcry has surged since the release of the video, the police department has not made any further statements regarding the status of the officers involved or the condition of the woman arrested.
