Cleveland investigating officer striking handcuffed woman

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland police are investigating an incident recorded on a cellphone that shows a detective hitting a handcuffed woman after she spits at officers.

The incident occurred Aug. 11 on the city’s west side during the arrest of 21-year-old Ciara Perez-Rodriguez. A city spokesman today confirmed the incident is being investigated but provided no details.

The video shows Perez-Rodriguez standing handcuffed behind a cruiser, spitting at a plainclothes detective and falling to the ground after being hit in the face by another detective.

Perez-Rodriguez is free on bond after being charged with felony assault on a police officer.

A police complaint says she was arrested after throwing a soda can at officers and then kicked several officers. Police had earlier arrested several people during a “sweep” in her neighborhood.