A video of an El Paso Police Department officer punching a woman in the face while she is on the floor is going viral online.
The video posted on Instagram by popular El Paso social media account TheRealFitFamElPaso shows officers attempting to arrest a woman inside a house. The video is undated, and the location is listed only as Central El Paso, where police executed an arrest warrant.
A video appearing to show an El Paso Police Department officer punching a woman in the face is going viral online.
El Paso police officials said they were aware of the social media video showing the arrest. They added that officers were locating a suspect wanted on suspicion of family violence/assault.
“Force was used during the apprehension,” the statement reads.
The woman, whom police did not name in their statement, was arrested in connection with family violence/assault charges and an additional charge of resisting arrest.
She was booked into the El Paso County jail in Downtown on Thursday, April 2, on a $4,000 bond. She was released the same day on a personal recognizance bond (PR bond), meaning she did not have to pay bail as long as she followed the conditions set by the judge. No information was released on what conditions were set.
The incident is under investigation.
“Per department policy, the Internal Affairs Division is reviewing the incident,” the police statement read. “We recognize the community’s concern and are committed to transparency. We will share further information as the investigation allows, and appreciate the public’s patience.”
Video shows El Paso police officer punching woman
The video starts midway through the incident. A woman, who was identified as 28-year-old Kelcee Hufford, is in a corner of a room as an officer attempts to handcuff her. The woman appears to be resisting arrest. The woman is grabbed by the officers, the officers and woman struggle to the floor.
As the woman is on the floor, two officers are on top of her as she screams that she has been tased three times. That is not shown in the video. As the woman is on the floor, an officer punches her in the face with a closed fist. The woman goes silent briefly as onlookers begin yelling.
The woman begins struggling with the officers again and demands to speak with their supervisor. Another woman who identifies herself as the woman’s mother is heard in the video telling officers that the woman being arrested has autism.
The woman claims she cannot breathe. The mother tells officers the woman being arrested can’t breathe. An officer responds, “she can breathe.”
More officers arrive and the woman is eventually placed in handcuffs. She carried out of the house as she screamed. More than five police patrol units are seen outside the house.
The video ends with the woman in a police patrol unit as officers continue searching the house.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
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: El Paso police officer punches woman’s face in viral video