Fort Collins Police Chief Says Video Showing Officer Shoving Woman Lacks Context

Fort Collins Chief of Police John Hutto says a nine-second video showing one of his officers throwing a Colorado State student to the ground lacks context. The video of the arrest last Thursday, he says, does not tell the whole story.

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"The arrest of Michaella Surat by Fort Collins Police officers has generated a great deal of interest on social media and conversation in our community," he says. "I understand and appreciate why this event has sparked so much interest."

Hutto says that while the cell phone video captured part of the incident, it was also "documented on the body cameras worn by the officers on the scene."

He won't release that video until the investigation is complete.

"This is an open investigation and to release evidence, absent a truly compelling reason, would not be proper," he says.

Police say that the incident happened last Thursday.

Officers responded to Old Town for the report of a disturbances. Surat allegedly shoulder checked the bouncer and an officer who was questioning her boyfriend. Officers say that she then tried to pull her boyfriend from the area.

She was told that she was free to go but that her boyfriend was not.

Surat remained at the scene, police say, and physically obstructed and struck an officer. She was then taken to the ground and arrested.

She was charged with assault and obstructing a peace officer.