Calif. Highway Patrol Officer Suspended in Beating of Homeless Woman

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The video footage was violent.

A California Highway Patrol officer straddling an older woman rained down punches, all of them closed fist, to the woman's face. 

The July 1 video of the incident went viral.

On Wednesday the CHP released a statement noting that Daniel Andrew, the officer who is reported to have been involved in the attack, has been suspended from active duty and could face serious charges, the New York Daily News reports.

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According to the Daily News, the CHP has finished its criminal investigation and has given the information to the "Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, which will determine whether to file charges."

The footage, which appeared on sites like YouTube and WorldStarHipHop shortly after the incident happened, appeared to show Andrew on top of 51-year-old Marlene Pinnock, throwing punches to the woman's face while she struggled to avoid being hit.

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Pinnock, who was recently released from hospital, told the Associated Press that she was taken to a hospital where she was placed on psychiatric hold for 72 hours. Pinnock told AP that she is homeless and was headed to an underpass that is only accessible from the highway when the incident occurred. Andrew claimed that he was trying to help the woman, who had started to wander into highway traffic.

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According to the Daily News, Pinnock has sued the state patrol agency.

Read more at the New York Daily News.

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