US Police authorities in Coral Springs, Florida have defended a white male police officer captured on a video clip repeatedly punching a 14-year old African-American girl on her side while she lay face-down on the ground with her hands pinned under her.
Coral Springs Police Department told a local CBS TV station on Saturday that its officers arrested the teen after being dispatched to a nearby shopping mall on Thursday following a complaint that a group of youngsters were reportedly harassing patrons.
Police added in a statement that officers banned the teens from the mall at the request of its security team but they reportedly returned, prompting them to detain the girl shown in video being struck by the male officer because she began to “incite” the others.
“Officers attempted to take her into custody, at which time she began to fight and resist arrest. Due to her stature and aggressive behavior, officers took her to the ground…