Cop Caught on Video Slapping and Punching Woman During Arrest Gets Punished — but It's Not the Sanction You'd Likely Expect

A Wisconsin police officer caught on video slamming a woman's head on a patrol car's hood and slapping and punching her in the face used justifiable force, his department determined — but he was suspended for 10 hours without pay for using vulgar language.

Image source: YouTube

In the patrol car dashcam video, Officer George Gothner can be heard yelling "stop resisting!" as he attempted to arrest Natasha Lancour in a Superior parking lot on January 5.

Image source: YouTube

Image source: YouTube

The department's chief of police said Gothner was cleared based on a review of the arrest conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, KDLH-TV reported.

Image source: YouTube

More from KDLH:

The department concluded that Gothner failed to utilize proper communication skills and was vulgar and unprofessional in his initial contact with Lancour and his words were a violation of several department policies.

As a result, Gothner was suspended for 10 hours without pay.

Image source: YouTube

"Superior Police Department places great value on our relationship with the community," Chief Charles LaGesse told KDLH. "This trust has been eroded by the public perception of this incident and we will strive to win that back by living through the tenets of our mission statement."

But Lancour's attorney is looking for more than that.

"The system of how we judge officers has to change," Rick Gondik told the station. "We will not see anything come out of situations like this as long as the cops are giving attaboys to the abusive cops. We need to have an outside agency look at the use of force incidents and make a finding."

Here's the dashcam clip of the incident via YouTube:

Gondik told KDLH he plans to file a civil lawsuit against Gothner and the City of Superior.

In October a special prosecutor declined to pursue criminal charges against Gothner, KDLH noted, and then Lancour's disorderly conduct charge was dropped. Gothner, who has been on administrative duties since July, will return to patrol next week.

He's already served his 10 hour suspension, KDLH said.

This story has been updated.

(H/T: Raw Story)