Anish Vij
A NYPD police officer brutally punched a 19-year-old woman in the face, footage appears to show.
The incident occurred on West 136th Street near Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard in Harlem late Tuesday afternoon, 30 August.
Viral footage shows the altercation involving Tamani Crum, 19, in a green skirt, and officer Kendo Kinsey.
Warning, video contains graphic images and strong language:
In a busy crowd of people, officers were trying to arrest murder suspect Elvin James, 22.
Crum can be seen hastily walking up to where the incident is taking place. Kinsey reacts by appearing to hit the 19-year-old, causing her to fall to the pavement.
One person yelled: "Why'd you do that! She's just a little girl! You're wilding, bro!"
Crum is then taken away by Kinsey and fellow cops.
Police say that another person named as Faith Harrell, 27, was also arrested.
A NYPD statement said that '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'.
On Wednesday night at Manhattan Criminal Court, Crum was charged with a misdemeanor and set free without bail.
Crum's grandmother Julia said: "He cold knocked her out. He's not better than the people who are knocking people out in the street...
"He should never have put his hands on her or any female. He's wrong. He's wrong. He's wrong."
So far, Kinsey has not been disciplined. The Detectives Endowment Association, which is considering a civil suit on behalf of the cop, told New York Post: "When you assault a New York City Detective in order to interfere with an arrest of a man armed with a gun there are repercussions."
Murder suspect James allegedly shot at a group of people on West 163rd Street near Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard on August 12.
The 22-year-old is currently charged with attempted murder as a hate crime in the second-degree, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a firearm.
UNILAD has contacted NYPD for additional comment.
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