A woman who was mercilessly bashed by a California Highway Patrol officer will receive $1.5 million in settlement, police said Wednesday.
Marlene Pinnock, 51, was beaten by Officer Daniel Andrew July 1. A video of the incident shows Andrew pinning Pinnock to the ground at the edge of a freeway, straddling her and punching her in the head several times as she tries to protect herself, reports Reuters. This was after the officer found her walking barefoot on the freeway as she stepped into traffic s near downtown Los Angeles, Highway Patrol said.
Andrew told her to stop and after he went near her she became argumentative. He then arrested her and began beating her on the head. Pinnnock said blows left her with slurred speech.
Andrew who joined the CHP in 2012 offered to resign. "When this incident occurred, I promised that I would look into it and vowed a swift resolution," CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement, reports the Associated Press. "Today, we have worked constructively to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to all parties involved."
According to Pinnock's attorney Caree Harper, the settlement accomplished what the two the parties were looking for. "One of the things we wanted to make sure of was that she was provided for in a manner that accommodated her unique situation in life," Harper said, "and that the officer was not going to be an officer anymore and we secured those things."
Criminal charges against Andrew could be filed. The CHP gave the results of the investigation to Los Angeles County prosecutors last month, stating that he could face serious charges but none have been filed yet.
