Video emerged of a Black woman on the ground being punched by a white male police officer in North Carolina, authorities said Wednesday.
The incident, which was captured in bystander video, unfolded Monday afternoon as four officers appeared to hold down the woman as a fifth officer hit her several times.
She and another man were allegedly smoking marijuana in public when the police approached them, authorities said.
"I get it. I understand the outrage," Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings told reporters. "I understand the emotions that come when you look at a video that involves an officer who is punching a female who we’re trying to make the arrest and subdue."
The officers involved were not immediately identified, and Jennings said his department is going through the legal and administrative steps needed to get body camera video released.
The officer has been removed from patrol duties as the internal investigation continues.
Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
Read the full story on NBCNews.com.
