A Colorado police officer has been fired after he was caught on camera punching a woman squarely in the face while she was handcuffed.
Former Loveland Officer Russell Maranto, 28, punched Angelia Hall, 59, in the mouth while she was detained in a hospital emergency room.
In the footage, Hall can be heard becoming increasingly frustrated and angry as she sits in an examination chair while cursing and yelling at the officers and nurses who were present.
But it was when she spat at Maranto that he immediately reacted by punching her.
Another officer in the room intervened and pulled Maranto away from Hall.
Following the punch, Hall demands to see video of what had just occurred – now even more upset given that she was powerless to fight back with her hands secured behind her back.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
Loveland Police Chief Tim Doran released a statement on Friday as he explained his reasoning for firing the officer, citing the unnecessary use of force.
‘I am sharing this video in the spirit of transparency and on the promise to hold both my team and the citizens who break the law accountable for their actions,’ Doran said.
The incident was investigated by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, but so far the district attorney’s office has not filed criminal charges against Maranto.
The chief took swift action against Maranto who was fired from the Loveland Police Department three days after the incident on May 20.
Officers had initially responded to reports of Hall wandering in and out of traffic, displaying confused and incoherent behavior.
Officers had placed her under protective custody and taken her to a local hospital to be evaluated.
Hall has been charged with third-degree assault for her actions towards the fired officer.
Spitting is assault; she’ll probably not spit again
Unnecessary, is he still on the force??
This old pig completely deserved to be hit, at her age to do that is disgusting. Nobody should have to take being spit on. The officer shouldn’t have been fired people are out of control with zero respect for law enforcement. Anyone who says they wouldn’t have hit her in the same situation is a liar.
I agree with Lisa! Shewas overly aggresive with language, kicking the office. It was adefensive reaxtion on his part, BUT he should have perhaps suspended, have to go for anger manabment training. It appears she was also verbally abusive tp others in the room. What was her initial crime?