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Policeman filmed punching woman in head during beach arrest

A police officer has been filmed punching a young mother in the head during a dramatic beach arrest.

Confronting footage, shot by a fellow beachgoer, shows Emily Weinman, 20, being apprehended by officers during Memorial Day weekend at Wildwood beach in New Jersey.

Two officers try to restrain her with one male officer striking the woman twice in the head as she is forced into the sand before she is placed in handcuffs.

A baby, believed to be Weinman’s 18-month-old daughter, can be heard crying in the background as a bystander shouts, “stop resisting”.

In the dramatic footage an officer can be seen striking the 20-year-old in the head before grabbing her around the neck. Source: Twitter/ HewittLexy
In the dramatic footage an officer can be seen striking the 20-year-old in the head before grabbing her around the neck. Source: Twitter/ HewittLexy

Weinman can be seen struggling throughout the clip shouting the officers’ actions were unlawful.

“You’re not allowed to hit me like that… I didn’t do anything wrong!” she says.

Weinman has since been charged with several offences including aggravated assault on a police officer , aggravated assault by spitting bodily fluids at a police officer, resisting arrest and minor in possession of alcohol.

City of Wildwood Police Department confirmed an internal investigation was underway into this matter and the involved officers had been reassigned to administrative duty pending the outcome of a full and thorough investigation.

Police Chief Robert Regalbuto said that despite the content of the video being of an “alarming” nature, he does not want to give judgement on the incident until having the final results of the investigation.

Ms Weinman took to Facebook to give her account over the incident at Wildwood Beach. Source: Twitter/ HewittLexy
Ms Weinman took to Facebook to give her account over the incident at Wildwood Beach. Source: Twitter/ HewittLexy

The mother of one took to Facebook in a now-deleted post to give her side of the story. She says she had gone to the beach with the father of her child and was approached by officers about a bottle of alcohol she had with her.

She says she failed a breathalyser test, but denied she had been drinking the contents of the bottle she had on her.

After refusing to give her name to police, the officer moved to arrest her.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. He told me he’s arresting me and started coming towards me to put handcuffs on me,” she wrote online.

Weinman claims the police officer caused her to black out during the arrest. Source: Facebook/ Emily Weinman
Weinman claims the police officer caused her to black out during the arrest. Source: Facebook/ Emily Weinman

She said the officer tackled her to the ground, forcing her to black out.

“Thats when he head locked me by his arm around my neck, punched on me in my head and then he head locked me again but this time choking me, I was gasping for air,” she said.