WMBF News reports that (WBTV) - A North Carolina police officer was fired after he appeared to straddle a woman and punch her repeatedly during an arrest in a now-viral video.
The viral video from doorbell camera footage captured a Shelby police officer appearing to throw a woman on the ground and hit her repeatedly on Friday, May 29, before straddling her during an arrest.
Watch: Viral video appears to show police officer hitting woman repeatedly during arrest in Shelby In a press conference shared on social media at 10 a.m.
Saturday, Shelby police Chief Brad Fraser said the police officer seen hitting the woman was fired.
The officer was previously placed on “administrative suspension.” Fraser said the findings of an internal investigation were handed over to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations for an “independent review of any criminal violations.” City Manager Justin Merritt, and Shelby Mayor Stan Anthony also spoke during the press conference about the “disturbing” arrest.
The viral video of the arrest, which appeared to come from a doorbell camera quickly circulated online on Friday.