AVONDALE, Ariz. - A woman seen dragged by a Goodyear Police Department officer in a video posted on Twitter said she was the victim of police brutality.
Renee Armenta said the officer used excessive force Thursday, following a traffic stop.
“You know I didn’t do nothing to him, nothing for them to do that. You know I’m just trying to take care of my kids and you know, that happened,” Armenta said.
Court documents show it happened Thursday, just before noon.
In the probable cause statement, the officer wrote he pulled over Armenta on a traffic violation after discovering she had a suspended driver’s license.
“I take responsibility for that, I do,” Armenta told 12 News Friday, about driving with a suspended license.
The officer stated Armenta refused his order to get out of the car, resisted arrest and made a sudden movement leading him to fear an imminent physical assault.
Armenta told 12 News she was never told she was under arrest.
“I got out the car and he was pulling me. I said wait a minute, wait a minute what am I getting arrested for? Why are you pulling me? What’s going on? What’s going on? And then I seen his arm come up and he hit me,” Armenta said.
Armenta said the video posted on Twitter and the bruising all over her arms, head and legs showed she’s a victim of police brutality.
The Goodyear Police Department put out the following statement Friday:
In the continued interest of transparency and maintaining the public’s trust, the Goodyear Police Department has forwarded the case involving the encounter between a Goodyear Police Officer and suspect during the arrest which took place on September 6, 2018, to the Surprise Police Department for a thorough investigation. It is unclear how long this investigation will take and we appreciate the patience of the public as we all await the findings.
According to the officer’s probable cause statement, there was a front passenger with Armenta at the time of the arrest.
The officer wrote he found marijuana and a methamphetamine pipe in the car. Armenta told 12 News they weren’t her property. Armenta said she planned to take legal action against the Goodyear Police Department.
A Goodyear PD spokesperson told 12 News Friday the officer in this case was still on duty.