Video shows Vallejo police officer punch driver after crash

VALLEJO – A video posted to TikTok Friday afternoon shows a Vallejo police officer punch a woman while arresting her after a crash.

The video was posted by TikTok user Romyr Hamilton, who said it was taken at about 12:10 p.m. on Columbus Parkway near Admiral Callaghan Lane. Hamilton said that a truck hit a Nissan as the officer approached in a patrol car. 

The video shows the officer then approached the Nissan with his gun drawn, pulled the driver out, slammed her against the truck and then on the ground. He punched her and held her down with his knees on her neck and shoulders.

Vallejo police said in a statement that the driver was suspected of shoplifting nearby and fled from the officer, causing a crash with the truck and another car occupied by a mother, who was injured, and her two children, who were unharmed.

Police said that loss prevention staff at a business in the 1100 block of Admiral Callaghan Lane flagged down the officer and pointed out a blue Nissan leaving the parking lot.

When the officer tried to stop the Nissan, the driver fled, and the officer pursued the car until the driver ran a red light and collided with an SUV and a cement truck.

The officer opened the door to arrest the driver, and police said she tried to flee, so he "conducted a control hold take down to prevent her from running."

"Once the suspect was on the ground, she continued to actively resist, pivoting her body and gauging the officer's arm in an attempt to escape, prompting him to strike her once to gain immediate compliance," police said in a statement.

A passenger in the Nissan also fled, but two bystanders grabbed her and held her down until more officers arrived, according to police.

Police found about $2,000 of suspected stolen merchandise in the Nissan. Police said the store also implicated the two women in a previous theft last month.

The two women were taken to a hospital and then booked into jail.

As of about 10 p.m. Friday, the video had been viewed more than 560,000 times.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Vallejo police.