Police Put On Leave After Striking Woman In Confrontation: Contra Costa County

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A police officer is on paid administrative leave after striking and arresting a woman who police said bit the officer during a homeless encampment cleanup.

The incident occurred about 9:35 a.m. July 1 while authorities were clearing two adjacent Antioch encampments.

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City officials had scheduled a cleanup at Waldie Plaza, 206 G St., a city-owned property that is subject to encampment abatement.

At the same time, BNSF Railway was conducting its own encampment cleanup on the adjacent railroad right-of-way.

According to the Antioch Police Department, as BNSF crews cleared the railroad property, several people who had been camping there moved into Waldie Plaza.

Antioch police officers were already assigned to the city's cleanup to provide security for city employees and the contracted cleanup crew.

Police said a 41-year-old woman who had been on the BNSF property confronted the city's cleanup workers after moving into the Waldie Plaza area.

Officers repeatedly ordered her to move away from the cleanup crew. When she allegedly refused, officers arrested her.

Police said the woman bit one of the arresting officers on the shoulder during the arrest. The officer struck the woman before taking her into custody.

Police said officers arrested the woman for interfering with their duties.

Under department protocol, the Antioch Police Department said it has notified the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, informed its California Department of Justice consultant and Internal Affairs Division, and is assigning the case to an independent investigator for review.

The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.

The woman was booked into the Contra Costa County Detention Facility on suspicion of resisting, delaying, or obstructing a peace officer, and resisting a peace officer with violence.

"Any use of force by our officers is taken seriously," Police Chief Joe Vigil said in a statement. "This incident will be fully reviewed under our use of force policy, state law, and our department's current independent oversight framework."