Officials are investigating after video posted to social media showed a woman apparently having a seizure after being “subdued” by police breaking up a fight in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood hours after the Pride Parade ended in the area.
Police said the incident took place in the 1000 block of West Belmont Avenue Sunday evening. Officers responded to the scene where a physical fight was underway with “a group of individuals.”
“When officers arrived, they attempted to break up the disturbance by subduing the woman to the ground,” police said in a statement.
Video posted to social media following the incident showed a woman appearing to swing her fist when she is taken to the ground by an unidentified police officer. She then begins shaking on the ground while people shout "she's having a seizure."
“The officer's actions were formally documented and the department will initiate an investigation into the complaint which will be conducted independently by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability,” CPD’s statement read.
COPA confirmed it is actively investigating the incident “between a Chicago law enforcement office and civilian.”
Two people also face charges in the fight, police said Thursday. It was not clear if the woman in the video was among them.
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According to CPD, 20-year-old Simone Jones, of Gary, faces one misdemeanour count of battery after she allegedly “battered and spit on” a 33-year-old man during the altercation.
Freddie Gordon, 21, of Indianapolis, also faces two counts of battery after he allegedly battered a 33-year-old man and 41-year-old man, police said.
Video of the incident has been shared more than 160,000 times and viewed more than six million times.
NBC 5 was unable to independently verify if the woman was having a seizure or if she had a medical condition.
