The Philadelphia police officer whose attack on an innocent woman was filmed and posted to YouTube has been suspended with the intent to dismiss.
Lt. Jonathan Posey, a 19-year veteran of the Philadelphia police force, has been placed on 30-day leave for striking Aida Guzman Sunday during the city’s Puerto Rican Parade. NBC 10 reported that Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey plans to fire the officer when his suspension is complete.
Posey is believed to have struck Guzman because he thought that she was responsible for spraying water on his face during a traffic stop midway through the parade. Video of the incident clearly shows that she was not the one to spray the water, though she had just shot off a round of silly string.
Either way, the silly string did not land on Posey, and Guzman had done nothing to provoke such violence.
“I don’t have time to play games like that,” she told Philadelphia radio station WWPV shortly after the incident.
Guzman’s attorney, Enrique Latoison, told NBC 10 that his client did not intend to press charges against the officer. All she wants is an apology—though that’s yet to happen.
Josey has remained silent on the issue since the incident Sunday. According to CBS affiliate KYW, it’s possible that the cop could face criminal charges.
“Obviously, he could be criminally charged,” Ramsey relayed. “The DA would have to make that decision.”
Photo via gvalentin570/YouTube