VIDEO: Cape Coral officer throws woman to ground

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A video shows a woman and man arguing at Dixie Roadhouse early Sunday morning when a police officer approaches them to break up the fight, violently throwing the woman to the ground.

The woman appears to be knocked out. Many people expressed concern about the use of excessive force on Facebook where the original video was posted. Others said they believed the officer’s response was justified.

A spokesperson with the Cape Coral Police Department said the officer was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. The findings of CCPD’s internal investigation will be released to the public, a spokesperson said. There was no comment on the expected length of the investigation and the department will not release the officer’s name.

The department released a statement Sunday that said:

“The agency maintains the responsibility to our community to protect our citizens and officers which unfortunately at times, involves the use of physical force.

“If it is determined through this investigation that these actions were inappropriate, we will hold ourselves accountable.”

CCPD Det. Sgt. Dana Coston said there is an expectation to conduct a fair investigation.

“I think the citizens want us to be just as accurate and thorough and complete with an
internal investigation as we would an external criminal complaint,” he said.

The woman in the video was arrested for disorderly intoxication. At a Cape Coral council meeting on Monday, some people blamed the incident on late bar hours.

The council is expected to approve the extended hours for another year, however, with members saying the recorded incident did not happen because of late bar hours. Council member Richard Leon said the officer in the video was working because of the late hours program.

“There was a police officer there. That’s why because we have the bar owners paying for it,” he said.