$1.5 Million for Woman Beaten on the Side of the Highway by CHP Officer

Video of a California Highway Patrol officer punching a woman on
the head on the side of a highway in Los Angeles got
wide attention in July. Back when the incident was exposed, CHP
promised to investigate the matter.

Yesterday, following a nine-hour mediation session, the CHP
agreed to a $1.5 million settlement. And the officer involved has
agreed to resign. From the
Associated Press:

The statement said that Officer Daniel Andrew, who joined the
CHP in 2012 and has been on paid administrative leave since the
incident, “has elected to resign.”

Andrew could still be charged criminally in the case. The CHP
forwarded the results of its investigation of the incident to Los
Angeles County prosecutors last month, saying he could face serious
charges but none have been filed yet.

Much of the money will come in the form of a “special needs
trust,” according to the AP. The woman, Marlene Pinnock, has
bipolar disorder and apparently was off her medication and
wandering in traffic when the officer arrived. She told the AP that
she thought the officer was trying to kill her.

And while Andrew resigning may be considered justice, I would be
wary that he could be easily be rehired by some other law
enforcement agency.

Here’s the video for anybody who missed it in July: