LA Cop Beating Prompts Federal Inquiry Demand

Los Angeles civil rights leaders are demanding a federal investigation into the shocking beating of a woman by a police officer.

One community spokesman said footage of the officer throwing the woman to the ground and raining blows upon her was "repulsive".

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the officer was trying to restrain the woman because she had been putting herself and others at risk by walking on a motorway.

The clip of Tuesday's incident shows the patrolman crossing a busy dual carriageway to accost the pedestrian as she walks across the central reservation.

He pins her beneath him on the grassy strip and unleashes a flurry of punches to her face as she lies flat on her back. An off-duty officer helps the patrolman apply handcuffs.

The CHP said at a news conference on Friday that the officer has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted.

"What caused the officer to respond in the way he has has not been thoroughly evaluated so I don't want to provide you with an opinion," Assistant Chief Chris O'Quinn told journalists.

Activists said at their own news conference they were especially shocked by the video because the CHP has had a good record on community relations and racial profiling.

But Earl Ofari Hutchinson, founder of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, said he was not satisfied by the CHP's internal inquiry.

He is calling for a US Justice Department "fast-track probe" into the matter.

"The tape clearly shows the woman was unarmed, subdued on the ground, and non-resisting the officer," he said.

"This blatant use of excessive force is both reprehensible and unprofessional and sets yet another horrid example of law enforcement resorting to needless violence to make an arrest."

The activists said they suspect the woman, who police say refused to give her name, may be homeless and mentally ill.

Authorities have confirmed she was placed under mental health evaluation.

Pedro Baez, vice-president of Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, said: "We saw something that was just repulsive, reprehensible and totally out of character for them (the CHP)."

Lita Herron, of the Youth Advocacy Coalition, said: "Speaking for the women of this community, we are angry, we are upset."

David Diaz, who shot the video from a passing car, says he believed the officer clearly used excessive force.

He told KABC-TV: "He could have easily calmed her down. You can use strength without punching."

The incident comes after footage this week also emerged of a policeman in Indiana pushing over a man in a wheelchair .