California Cop Filmed Punching Woman In The Face, His Partner Steps In To Stop Him

A Westminster Police Department officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after cellphone video showed him punching a handcuffed woman twice in the face, CBS Los Angeles reports.

Police said a caller reported at about 4 p.m., Wednesday that a Hispanic woman had assaulted an Asian woman who'd tried to rescue her dog running in the street and while Garcia may have provoked some of what happened by putting hands on Ciomara's arm.

"She basically put her fist on her arm but didn't hit her, and that's when the Asian woman left and, like 20 minutes later, came back with cops and like seven or eight cops showed up," a witness told CBA L.A.

Police said when officers got to the scene, they found Garcia, 34, of Westminster, and identified her as a suspect in the reported assault.

"She's bipolar, she has schizophrenia," said Adolpho Rosales, Garcia's brother. "I think they could do a better job since they already have a history with her, they already know her."

During the investigation, officers learned Garcia had an outstanding felony bench warrant for vandalism.