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Cop Who Sucker-Punched Woman Will Lose Job
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 4, 2012
Modified Oct 4, 2012
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 4, 2012
Modified Oct 4, 2012
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The Philadelphia police department has suspended the cop caught on video sucker-punching a woman in the face at a Puerto Rican Day Parade over the weekend.
Lt. Jonathan Josey, a 19-year veteran who also teaches "violence prevention" to teenagers, is currently suspended for 30 days with "intent to dismiss." Internal Affairs is investigating the incident, and Josey could also face criminal charges. The seemingly arbitrary sucker punch was captured in graphic detail in this video.
Josey's victim, 39-year-old Aida Guzman, was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly throwing a beer bottle, but the District Attorney has decided to drop the charge. Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told CBS Philly yesterday, "In looking at the video and looking at the charges, clearly there was some discrepancies there. So, I'm not at all surprised in the ... I'm rather pleased that they did decide to drop the charges. I think it's appropriate in this manner."
Guzman's attorney says his client is more interested in an apology from Josey than seeing him lose his job. The officer has yet to comment on the high-profile assault, which was watched on YouTube over one million times. Her lawyer tells the Daily News, “We want an official apology, a public apology, instead of a no comment during this process."
Tagged
philadelphia
philly
police brutality
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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