New York City Cop Caught On Video Punching Woman In Face

NYPD is taking a lot of heat on social media thanks to a viral video of an officer punching a woman in the face and laying her out on the sidewalk. The shocking incident went down Aug. 12 in Harlem, but the video is just now circulating online — and it shows a group of officers in the middle of a crowd attempting to arrest a man in connection with attempted murder.

The scene is chaotic, and you can see one officer push the woman away from the crowd, and she seems to shove him back.

That’s when the cop draws back and throws one crushing blow to her face. She falls backward, hitting her head on the pavement.

Onlookers were absolutely shocked, and one man is heard yelling at the officer, “Why would you do that?!”

 It’s unclear if she lost consciousness, but moments later, officers had her up on her feet and in handcuffs.

NYPD is describing the incident as self-defense — it says, “While police were effecting the arrest, multiple individuals on scene interfered by physically assaulting numerous officers. One officer sustained a minor injury to the head.”

 Two women ended up charged with assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration — one of them was additionally charged with menacing and harassment, and a third woman was accused of spitting at an officer.

 It’s unclear which of the three women was the punching victim from the video. As of now, NYPD has not announced any discipline for the officer.