A Cincinnati police captain has been charged with assault and disorderly conduct after he was caught on video in October strangling a woman in a city park while she yelled for him to “get off” her.
Cincinnati Police said Brian Norris was placed on administrative duty and his police powers suspended until the conclusion of the criminal case, according to WCPO.
In the video, shot on October 24 in Washington Park, the woman yells for Norris to “Get off of me!” before he walks away, telling witnesses “she knows what she did.”
Witnesses provided care for the woman and called 911. According to an incident report, a witness said Norris dragged the woman from a vehicle “while holding her in a choke hold.”
“Witness stated that the suspect was on top of the victim, continuing to strangle the victim with his hands,” the report said.
The woman declined to speak with officers unless they turned their body cameras off, telling them that Norris “is CPD.”
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge asked an outside prosecutor’s office to conduct the investigation into the incident but declined to name the office.
“It is imperative to have a fair and impartial investigation when any high-ranking member of our agency is alleged to have engaged in misconduct,” she said. “Captain Norris is entitled to due process and we will await the outcome of this case.”
Norris was off duty at the time of the assault.
