Seattle Police Jaywalking Stops Often Turn Ugly
Seattle police monitors have been warning for years that jaywalking stops often escalate into confrontations with police.
An officer struggling with two jaywalkers Monday punched one of them, and a video of the fight led civil rights groups to accuse police of an overreaction.
In an audit last year, the Office of Professional Accountability said complaints against police often originated with a jaywalker refusing an officer's order to stop. The office made a similar finding in 2007.
Police are conducting an internal review. Acting Deputy Police Chief Nick Metz said Tuesday that the department's civilian-led Office of Professional Accountability is investigating the actions of Officer Ian P. Walsh, 39, the officer involved in the incident.
Cop Punches Woman: What Really Happened?
Seattle Cop Punches Teen in Face; Seen on Video
The video, shot with a cell phone, shows Walsh trying to arrest 19-year old Marilyn Levias. The two were already struggling when Levias' friend, a 17-year-old, pushed the officer, and he responded by punching the friend in the face.
"Are you serious? Are you serious?" bystanders are heard saying.
Metz said the two teens in the video bear much of the responsibility for not cooperating and resisting arrest.
CBS affiliate KIRO-TV found court records showing Levias has been arrested for assaulting a police officer before. According to the documents, Levias kicked a King County Sheriff's deputy in the stomach while she resisted arrest at the Ruth Dykeman Center in Burien.
Walsh has been temporarily re-assigned.
To see the incident, click on the video below of a report by Tarar Mergener, introduced by "Early Show" newsreader Chris Wragge: