A San Diego police sergeant is coming under fire after grabbing a woman whose home was on fire by the hair, in an apparent attempt to pull her away from the flames.
The entire event was captured on video by the editor of the Imperial Beach Patch, and begins with footage of the flames, before several men restrain and pull a frantic Torazzi Hayslett back towards an emergency vehicle.
KABC-TV says one of the men was actually her husband, but that when Sgt. Daniel McLaughlin grabs Hayslett’s arm, she appears to slap him in the face.
Seconds later, though the husband appears to have a decent hold of the woman, the officer continues to approach Hayslett, eventually grabbing her by her ponytail and yanking her head towards the ground.
The officer can be seen yanking Torazzi Hayslett towards the ground by her hair. (Photo: K Johnson/Imperial Beach Dispatch via CBS)
Hayslett, who teaches second grade, says she never tried to go in to the house, but grew upset when the officer grabbed her. A number of witnesses say otherwise, but are shocked by the use of force towards the woman whose house was burning down just yards away.
Police have launched an internal investigation into the matter, and KABC relates that this isn’t the first time McLaughlin has acted questionably. In May of 2011, a civil court apparently ruled that he used unreasonable force against a 74-year-old advocate for the homeless.
Watch CBS’ video of the event:
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (120)
RRFlyer
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:53amOK all You Haters, spout your Hate.
I just am not going to read anymore of it
Report this comment
OniKaze
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:10amNo offense intended, but what are you talking about???
Just Curious…..
Report this comment
wellbeing
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:36amThe Woman was more than likely hysterical, the husband was trying to subdue her and needed help. ‘Watchers’ don’t know how strong people resisting can be no matter their gender.
“Fat Slob” is an indication of ones bias toward police..mamm
Report this comment
wellbeing
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:41amThe woman was more than likely hysterical, even her husband was having trouble getting her under control. “Watchers” don’t realize how difficult is to subdue a fighting person. Opinions like “fat slob” police man just reveals your personal bias.
Report this comment
WATER-THE-TREE
Oct. 24, 2012 at 12:26pmWhatever the reason for the confrontation, it is a simple matter of the cop getting angry at being slapped and then getting in his revenge lick in. That’s all folks.
Report this comment
mkarsc
Oct. 24, 2012 at 12:50pmYou’re right. But I think most conservative folks do not agree with the hate regularly spewed in Blaze comments! Too bad we don’t speak up. Hate must be a good motivator. Cops are human too, by the way and are not out to get you!. (Neither are gay people). Go Romney!!!
Report this comment
sillyfreshness
Oct. 24, 2012 at 1:52pmWe definitely need to get some “hate crime” charges filed immediately, if not sooner.
Report this comment
ConsRight
Oct. 24, 2012 at 1:56pmHo about you actually write in plain English and not tired, truly worn-out cliches??? Too much to ask? At the end of the day, when all is said and done, you need to give a little to get a little and if you don’t lead by example….zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Report this comment
loneindividual
Oct. 24, 2012 at 1:57pmwhat do you define as hate?
Report this comment
pitboss711
Oct. 24, 2012 at 7:20pmI hate people who are always yelling “HATE”.
Report this comment
GB__The Holy Warmonger
Oct. 25, 2012 at 12:21amThe nice thing about video is that you can watch over and over to SEE what really happened. It appears she was being blocked by several firefighters when this “peace” officer grabs her from behind and starts DRAGGING her away backwards. No attempt whatever to talk to her. It’s questionable whether she even made contact when she slapped at him. His “take down” of her was completely unnecessary and if you look close the husband was trying to pull his hand away from her. This officer was clearly the one out of control.
Report this comment
olderjarhead
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:42amLooks like two big, fat, sloppy cops who immediately went to the standard bully cop routine. “I have a badge, and you don’t, so I can do whatever I want”. “Besides after your house burns down, and you dig through the rubble to put your life back together, I will be retiring with my $120,000 a year pension; SUCKER!”
Report this comment
Shamrock241
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:56amYou might want to look at the video again, the cop moved in for the take down after she took a swing at him.
Report this comment
olderjarhead
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:02amI know she appears so threatening. Apparently, this is the only way the fat slob could handle this situation. The SDPD should be honored to have such a fine officer.
Report this comment
666Sucks
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:16amYou have to draw the line, she slapped the cop not once but at least twice in the video, we don’t know what she did prior to the video. If she had not slapped that cop, this would be even more of a non story! Assault on a cop is an assault! Let her get away with it this time, next time she does something worse. He had a right to use her hair for leverage to get her down. Had the husband not been interfearing, the cop may have been able to subdue her differently. But I say, let her go into the burning house next time, problem solved! Remember, lefty’s worship stuff! Kind of sounds like what Italy is doing to the earth quake researchers!
Report this comment
FFTyranny
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:26amJust like it is said. Libs can’t have a conversation without calling out names because they have nothing else to backup their BS.
Yeah yeah yeah, hate whitey, hate pigs, hate fat people.
The woman sung at the cop 2 times before he decided to take her down for her own good. If you use violence towards anyone, expect to receive it. What, was the officer suppose to write her a note? Wrap his arms around her and give her a kiss? He has a right to defend himself against a person who doesn’t have the since of reality to use self control.
When an animal goes out of control you lock it in a cage.
Report this comment
lordjosh
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:39am@666sucks
The line has been drawn. This lady, with her husband restraining her, was of no threat to the cop. Nor is it the cops responsibility to restrain this woman. The cop is a powerpig, you can see it in his face. That cop would have been bloodied if he did that to my wife. Wouldv’e been shoving his pistol up his aus.
Report this comment
olderjarhead
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:43amFFTYRANNY- “Libs can’t have a conversation without calling out names because they have nothing else to backup their BS.” Are you saying that you are a lib? Just wondering, because you start out your reply with name calling. I am the farthest thing from a “lib” that you could imagine, but the cops are still fat; that, there is definitive proof of. Sorry for not being PC enough to your liking.
Report this comment
rEt_fiELdoP
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:44am@ Olderjarhead
Brilliant post (not)…. seriously, do you understand the video and policy(ies) that are before you? HOW IN THE WORLD do you make out the one man in civilian clothes to be a cop? You sir have just been prejudice and biased against what any fire department in the United States opposes: knowingly allowing a civilian to enter a structure that is on fire (*while efforts are being made to dispose the fire).
Think about it…
Report this comment
rEt_fiELdoP
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:50am@lordjosh…. another brilliant post.
clue: Peace Officers have every right to do what is necessary (using minimal force to obtain desire/necessary result up to and including drawing a weapon). What the video shows is the officer subduing a person who is out of control (and probably a great reason to be out of control most people would agree: watching your house burn in front of you).
Having said that, your comment of you popping him for doing that if he acted the same with your wife, well, nice…. spend time in jail well bubba cause that’d be where you be for atleast 120 days minimum for San Diego County.
Report this comment
lordjosh
Oct. 24, 2012 at 11:02am@ Ret_Fieldop
Cops do not have any rights as police officers, They have privilages granted by the people. (are you saying he could draw his gun on her to keep her from going into the building?why?) I’m not saying that he didn’t have a duty to try to assist her husband in keeping her out of the house, however a servant never slaps his master. If he cannot control his anger when dealing with someone in an emotional frenzy, someone who is being restrained by her husband and is of little threat to you or anyone else, he should not be a cop. More importantly, he owes this lady alot of money, personaly bnot the state.
Report this comment
00100111
Oct. 24, 2012 at 11:24amI’m with LordJosh. If that’d been my wife, that cop would be put 6 ft under.
Report this comment
pschlentz
Oct. 24, 2012 at 11:33amIf this woman had not been stopped from going into this very dangerous area and had been injured or killed in the process, I guarantee that there would have been a MONUMENTAL lawsuit against the City of San Diego. With the left-loaded attitude about the police, as though everything they do is wrong is ridiculous. That job is very difficult. No one’s perfect but they do their best.
1. The police officer pulled her right hand off of his right shoulder.
2. She struck the officer across his left cheek.
3. The officer tried to get her off balance by pulling her head down by her ponytail.
4. I think loosing a few strands of hair is better than having it all burned off.
Bigger picture folks.
Report this comment
RavenGlenn
Oct. 24, 2012 at 12:58pmShe struck the officer. I don’t care who you are, when you hit a police officer, they have every right to drive your face into the dirt and handcuff you.
Report this comment
ConsRight
Oct. 24, 2012 at 1:52pmI support the police. They have a tough job to do. They have to deal with some truly disgusting behavior from the many people they come into contact with. With all that said I’m at once alarmed and disgusted by frankly brutal and violent reactions to this and so many other situations. In Fullerton California last year we had a case where a homeless man, weighing 130 pounds was literally beaten to death by 6 Fullerton police force personnel. 2 of them have been charged with his murder which was caught on film. Yeh, nice. 6 of them beat the hell out of him. I could not bring myself to look at the pictures of what he looked like as he lay dying in hospital. Think train and person meeting. This young man Kelly Thomas was beaten to death by so-called public servants. I see way too many cases of Police officers visceral reaction to situations that is entirely unacceptable. I saw a woman in this video whose house is freaking burning down, imagine the trauma. I saw her be practically attacked and lifted and thrown backwards by a police officer. She slaps him and he responds by dragging her by the ponytail while her husband is trying to calm her down and hold her as their house goes up in flames. So if you think this is appropriate police behavior then I have literally nothing to say to you because you defend the indefensible. Don’t get me started on police unions…they are as corrupt as any in the public sector union circus.
Report this comment
FFTyranny
Oct. 24, 2012 at 6:47pm@olderjarhead
Thanks for proving my point. Your a lib that needs to come out. See, you’re one of those hippy pig calling old libs that see age setting in so now you want to be a conservative.
What the hell was the officer suppose to do to the woman swinging at him? Hold his head up for target practice?
I’d like to be there when one of you forum rambos try and take out an officer for doing his duty for protecting himself from an uncontrollable adult.
You have my cold steal in the back of your head with one hand and the other pulling on your hippy pony tail or corn roll which ever one you have. Okay man, wow dude you seeing the pretty colors yet?
Report this comment
lordjosh
Oct. 25, 2012 at 10:21am@ ravenglenn and FFTyrany
You know what they say….
When someone is abducted and held for a length of time, the victim starts to sympothize with and protect their captor. I cannot belive you two think this cops actions were justified. She was of no threat to anybody. Cops are servants when on duty. A servant may never touch his masters.
Report this comment
Proverbs17-12NLT
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:41amToo much porn the night before.
Report this comment
term limits for congress
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:37amHer meth lab exploded and she was trying to salvage a few treats that she’d cooked up earlier in the day.
Report this comment
ConsRight
Oct. 24, 2012 at 2:01pmI hope to God you do not pitch your tent in the Conservative section. Your comment is a disgrace. Her house burns down and you vomit this bilge, you’re a disgusting, sick pig. Could have been any one of our wives, sisters or daughters. I find no humor in someone’s house burning down and then been swung by the ponytail by a cop that is trained and paid to know better. If you call yourself a Christian then you had better seek forgiveness you sick freak. Grow a brain stem !!!!
Report this comment
SpaceRaider
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:30amHe should’ve just let her go back into the house. Would’ve saved the police department a lot of trouble.
Report this comment
Dustoff
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:46amNot for the fire-fighters it wouldn’t. One of us would have to go in after her. Dumb woman. Nothing in that house is worth your life.
Report this comment
WakingSheep
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:27amPapers. I need your papers prole!
Report this comment
grimmster
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:20amFor all of you who think the cop acted “stupidly”, look at it this was.One crazed black woman wants to go inside a burning house for(……..?), so the cop lets her, she dies,burnt to a crisp,then what happens?What the cop did is save her life,which is his duty.Personally, i would have let the idiot run back in,and die.
Report this comment
226crimsontrace
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:47amI feel sad for you, I watched the video twice, then started reading comments before I realized that she was black. I saw a woman who just lost all her possessions, along with all her family photos, maybe even a pet.
Yes I did have a house burn down once, you are a soulless *****
Report this comment
Mil-Dot
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:13amLook, I will be the first guy to jump on cops for misconduct, but she flat-out assaulted a police officer in that video. I don’t care if her house was burning down or not. Most cops are pro govt goons that protect criminal politicians, that is a fact. But, not this time. Sorry.
Report this comment
Johnny Cocheroo
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:53amI don’t know Mildot. Did you notice how the officer was handling her at the beginning of the video? Seemed to have his hands around her waist and was carrying her. If an officer (or any man except for yours truly) tried to put their hands on my wife, she would push him backwards – which many here seem to think that’s instant grounds for being hog-tied by police. Who knows though without seeing the beginning of the video. He might have started out nicer but then had to get rough to keep her from going int.
Did the officer really punch her with a closed fist?
If I was that husband, I would have tackled the officer to the ground. There was no need to drag her to the ground. The husband seemed to have her contained.
Sure, maybe the woman was out of control but maybe she was just upset and being manhandled.
Report this comment
Johnny Cocheroo
Oct. 24, 2012 at 11:02amapologies, should have read through that first – just a collection of thoughts ;-)
Report this comment
Dynaryder
Oct. 24, 2012 at 11:40amGrimmster your racism shows through in waves. I see a woman frantic because her whole life is going up in flames. I’m sure if this happened to your family you would just shrug and walk away huh…wouldn’t upset you one bit. I’m sure if a cop yanked your arm off an ambulance while your life was in flames you would say “thank you sir.” The woman is frantically watching her life go up in flames, and you think she deserves to burn to a crisp for it…….you are seriously disgusting.
Report this comment
jonhova
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:19amIf you slap a cop you have to expect you will face the consequences, and rightfully so.
HOWEVER…I would think that any man attempting to restrain this distraught woman, her husband, a firefighter or stranger, would have let that one little slap go knowing that she is obviously experiencing a horrible tragedy and is not exactly thinking straight. I think most men are man enough to not feel the need to retaliate against some lady, in that frame of mind, who is quite possibly experiencing the worst day of her life.
Only a cop would be so arrogant and self righteous that he feels the best course of action is not to turn the other cheek and show some discretion, but no, let’s assault her back and show her what a ‘real’ bad day is like.
Of course you have to think of the general public as human beings first; unfortunately it is obvious that most cops do not. I think most empathy is removed as part of training, the rest dealing with the worst society has to offer on a daily basis.
Now imagine that it wasn’t a cop, pretend it was the neighbor who was helping to restrain her and then did that to her after she slapped him…now imagine it’s YOUR wife.
Report this comment
savant
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:11amAt 1:25 the officer jerked her arm backwards then she smacked him. Looks to me she acted in self defense!
Report this comment
SeekerEmerald
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:23amShe was clearly out of control. It’s the cop’s JOB to make sure she doesn’t endanger herself or others. You can’t claim self defense when cops are trying to stop you from breaking the law, and/or prevent you from harming yourself or others. Self defense applies to resisting an illegal offensive action. What was the illegal action the officer was taking?
Report this comment
leetpriest
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:24amThe amount and method of subduing her by the police officer was disproportionate to her size. You’re telling me that 270lb cop needed to drag a 140lb woman by her hair in order to safely and effectively subdue her?
If you believe that, you’d probably also believe a Kenyan when he says we have less bayonets in the military.
Report this comment
ellietoo
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:09amThese are not your father’s police force. These are people who are union owned. They are trained not to protect the public but to see the public as something they control. It ‘s getting very dangerous for the average citizen. The Dems plan a take over. Their backers have already bought the media as well as our educational systems. They also own most of the police and fire departments. When are the citizens going to wake up?
Report this comment
dcovert
Oct. 25, 2012 at 4:20amReally! The dems own the police and fire fighters? True fact is that there are hundreds of thousands of LEO that take their oath to the Constitution seriously and prepared to protect and fight along side the decent tax paying citizens if needed continue liberty. I’m an Oathkeeper as are several hundred thousand other LEO s. Approximately 80% of America consist of rural areas and small towns with agencies under 40 sworn officers. I have been reading the Blaze everyday since it began and have read disgusting post by people who believe that cops are the enemy. That is just not the case with the vast majority of LEO s. In regards to tis incident……..what h#$$ would you have done?
Report this comment
LindaRuth
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:06amOut of control pigs!
Report this comment
TruthMonkey
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:11amUnnesecary Comment.
Report this comment
SeekerEmerald
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:18amOh, It was the COP who was out of control. OK… Got it… Right… Glad you cleared that up for me…
If her own husband can’t control her (and he’s not a small man!) then she clearly has issues.
Report this comment
GlensUncleBuck
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:19amEffen pigs!!!
Report this comment
TruthMonkey
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:25am@Glen
I bet you would not say that when your calling on the or the FD to help you. Your comments show that you have a low IQ with moral problems to boot
Report this comment
myptofvu
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:30amNot a fan of the porcine reference either but are we supposed to be all PC here too. There has been way too many instances of police misconduct lately and it does need to be pointed out and distinguished from the honorable.
Report this comment
TruthMonkey
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:38amRight dicussed in an honerable way not calling officers pigs etc.
Besides if you go there PIGS is so 60s
Report this comment
Drifterbill
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:02amWhy to people in authority feel the need to seek revenge when dealing with emotional people. They are supposed to be “trained” on how to act in these situations. Too often we see cops that take confrontation personally, and not deal with issues in a rational manner. These type of cops should be removed without question, not protected by their union and be forced to work as a Walmart greeter as part of the punishment..
Report this comment
dpmo63
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:57amToo bad for her the videos shows everything. At least Firemen standing i front of her before the cop takes her away. She decided to be ghetto and take a swing, her fault. It only looks bad because the husband was holding her up while the cop was taking her down. I see some commenters have a problem with this. Too bad. We could just do away with all police and fire protection. What the heck it’s your property protect it yourself. Just sit and think how YOU would handle a situation where some crazed lunatic interferes with fire department putting out a fire next to your house.
Report this comment
TruthMonkey
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:05amYes but put yourself in her shoes. As I said not brutality but bad judgement call
Report this comment
226crimsontrace
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:41amWhy do you put the police and firemen together? the firemen were fighting a fire, the cop was fighting a 120 lb. woman who was obviously emotionally challenged. The cop got a glancing slap on the face, but his thug mentality would not allow him to let it go
Report this comment
TruthMonkey
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:49amNormally I would support the police but on this one I don’t know.
It appears she was already being held back by another man. In a situation like that commonsense should prevail.
Yes she did slap the officer but she is in a unique situation and was distraught.
Really bad call by the officers as far as the video shows but not brutality. However he should be disciplined.
Report this comment
blanco5
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:46amLet her go in. We need to let these people make their own decisions and not put the fire and police at risk for their own stupidity.
Report this comment
SAJ
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:45amThe video clearly shows that the office attacked the woman after she struck him. His adrenalne kicked in after his ego was damaged. He is not fit for the force. She was clearly no threat to him as she was being restrained by her husband. The officer clearly wanted revenge. No excuse for this.
Report this comment
Shamrock241
Oct. 24, 2012 at 10:08amAfter reading your comment i wish the cop would have kicked her teeth in. You have to be a woman and let me teach you a valuable lesson, if you want to fight like a man expect to be treated like one.
Report this comment
Oneirishman
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:44amBlack women, white cop…who would Obama say acted stupidly?
Report this comment
Eastinfection
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:37amTime for another Obummer “Beer Summit”…
Report this comment
sta
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:35amWell that’s what happens when you smack a cop.
Report this comment
johnjamison
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:38amExactly
Report this comment
SAJ
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:51amThe woman was emotional – distraught. The officer should have recognized this. Of course she should not have struck the officer, but he attacked her as if she were a common street criminal. I have no respect for this officer.
Report this comment
darkknight91
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:00amLooked like he went after her first when there was no reason to and it looks like he swatted at her first as well. But you guys go ahead and side with the douchebag in uniform and worship at the altar of the men in blue. He’s a n ******* and the husband should’ve beat him to a pulp. Lousy coward with a gun.
Report this comment
SeekerEmerald
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:14am@saj Good point. Emotional and distraught people ALWAYS smack the first cop they see. If her unthinking instinct is to smack a cop, then there is something wrong with her.
Just another example of a person who thinks the world revolves around them, and she should get whatever she wants, no matter who she has to curse at, or smack, or fight.
Assault and battery IS a crime, and at that point she became a criminal, although I suspect her record will show this is not her first altercation with LEO and/or has been arrested previously.
If you can show me a cop who will take a smack like that from a person who is that out of control, I’ll show you a cop who is not good at maintaining control of situations, and could possibly get himself or someone else killed.
If you let her get away with a smack, she’ll come back with more. Some people love to “spin themselves up” no matter the reason. They feed off the emotions that they themselves are creating.
The “My house is burning down” stimulus does not provoke the “Strike a cop” response in normal people. This woman obviously has issues.
Making excuses for her is a great way to get more of this.
Report this comment
USPATRIOT101
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:34amHere is an idea, “dont slap cops”. You can tell by the womans remarks compared to the video, she’s smelling a nice payday.
Report this comment
kenboo1
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:31amShe clearly deserved to have her hair pulled and forced to the ground. She was so out of control. Look what she did… She made that fine outstanding and plump policeman leave the doughnut shop. What nerve she has!!!
OK she did take a swing at the porkly gentleman (ha ha ha) its a wonder he didn’t shot her… Others have been shot and killed for less…
I’m Sorry… If the police don’t start respecting citizens, the citizens are going to rise up…
Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:31amI can understand if her kids were in the house and she wanted to go in but for personal belongings and her house? That’s what insurance is for and as far as the police action you can see where she slapped at one of them,hell they saved her life by keeping her from going inside. That’s beside the point the house was too far gone anyway and she couldn’t get back inside if she wanted to.
Report this comment
U.N.hater
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:51amSome people have to see something in everything. The new normal.
Report this comment
AintLIBSjuzGreat
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:54amher pipe and rocks were burnin
Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Oct. 24, 2012 at 9:53amUN. Yeah I guess you’re right the cops should’ve let the woman run to her death sounds logical.
Report this comment
sortsgt
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:27amshe clearly hit him in the face, eyes, nose…clearly.
Report this comment
Bluefish49
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:27amIt doesn’t matter what happened, who saw it or who filmed it….the police are always right…even when shooting an un-armed citizen instead of using other force…stun gun…bean bag gun. It will come out by the left leaning press that he was trying to save her.
Report this comment
The Gooch
Oct. 24, 2012 at 8:22amEmotionally out-of-control, meet fat and brutal. Fat and brutal, meet emotionally out of control.
Looks like they were made for each other to me. Go away, Mr. Third Wheel Husband-Man!
Report this comment