Legal experts weigh in on Wildwood arrest video
WILDWOOD, N.J. (WTXF) - The first batch of police body cam video from that violent struggle over the weekend with a young woman on a Wildwood beach was released Wednesday.
Now that seen the footage has been released, the attorney for Emily Weinman says it's clear the officers used excessive force, while the mayor of Wildwood believes his officers acted appropriately in what became an intense situation.
The video starts with the officers asking 20-year-old Weinman to take a breathalyzer test. She tells them the unopened alcohol belongs to her aunt, who is on her way to the beach.
Weinman refuses to give her last name to the officers and walks away. That's when things escalate. You can see Weinman and the officer collide, knocking off the body camera. Weinman starts yelling. The officer grabs hold of her by her hair. Then, we see what looks like punches to the side of Weinman's head.
WATCH: Legal experts weigh in on Wildwood arrest video | Wildwood mayor reacts to body camera footage of violent beach arrest
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano talked with us over the phone Wednesday night and explained what he sees in the video: "I do not think that the officer tried to hit her in the head. I think he was going after the pressure points."
Troiano added, "I keep hearing this, you know, 'She's just a woman, she's just a woman.' She's a combatant at that point."
In an interview with "Good Day Philadelphia" Thursday morning, Troiano continued his defense of the officers' actions and said the whole thing could have been avoided had Weinman provided the officers with her last name.
He also told FOX 29 he's going through more than 200 emails and attempting to respond to most of them. He says he asked for phone numbers and called individuals to talk it out and explain police protocol - a personal approach to try to get people to understand this controversial video.
FOX 29 crews stopped by an address for Weinman on Wednesday, but no one answered.
Her attorney, Stephen Dicht, says the body cam video shows "excessive force and overreaction" by police, telling FOX 29, "It's all the same to me," when comparing the viral witness video with the footage released by police.
Police say Weinman was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault by spitting bodily fluids at/on an officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction and minor in possession of alcohol.
The case is in the hands of the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office.
Joining "Good Day Philadelphia" on Thursday morning to discuss the new body cam footage and what it shows were attorney Shaka Johnson and FOX 29 legal analyst Ken Rothweiler. Watch their discussion of the video in the clip above this story.