N.J. police investigate cell phone video showing cop punching woman

(CBS/WCBS) ELIZABETH, N.J. - A cell phone video allegedly caught a police officer in New Jersey punching a woman in the face outside of a nightclub in Elizabeth.

"I was very shocked, very shocked that a cop would hit a woman like that. And I was disappointed because that's an authority figure," the witness who recorded the video reportedly told CBS New York. The witness requested to remain anonymous.

The witness said several fights broke out as club-goers exited Club Envy on North Broad Street. The melee spilled onto the sidewalk outside the Wells Fargo bank across the street. The police officer is seen pushing a man to the ground and a woman steps in telling the officer not to hit the man, CBS New York reports.

According to the station, the witness said the officer seen punching the woman in the face was one of at least three police officers trying to control the crowd. She said the unidentified woman was drunk, but didn't appear to be a threat to the officer.

"I don't think he was in danger, not at all. And there was two more cops to the right that were Macing people. He could have easily asked one of them to come over here," the witness said.

The mayor of Elizabeth told CBS New York the matter is still under investigation by Internal Affairs.

The police officer remains on active duty, the station reports.