Pittsburgh Police union: Video shows woman attacked officer
An attorney for Pittsburgh’s police union says more pictures and video have surfaced showing what happened before a city officer punched a woman at the city’s gay pride parade and festival last month.
Fraternal Order of Police attorney Bryan Campbell says the other images show 19-year-old Ariel Lawther pushing a preacher who was protesting the event before she grabbed and pushed at the officer she accuses of wrongfully striking her.
The officer, Souroth Chatterji, remains on restricted duty during an internal investigation.
A 14-second video posted on Facebook showed the officer grabbing Lawther by the hair and punching her in the side. Campbell says that was necessary to subdue Lawther.
Her criminal defense attorney didn’t immediately return a call for comment Monday. She faces a preliminary hearing Aug. 11.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.