WARREN, Mich. — Warren police are defending their actions after a video of officers wrestling a woman to the ground went viral this week.
According to the police commissioner -- the video doesn’t show the whole story.
A bystander shot cell phone video after police arrived on Ford Avenue, just off of 9 Mile Road, Monday evening on reports of shots fired and a large fight. Three people were hospitalized and six were arrested.
Video shows it was a very emotionally charged scene, and police repeatedly asked bystanders to disperse.
A woman seen in the video filming the police was tackled to the ground by one of the officers.
Warren police said they had no choice because the woman came at them.
“We look at how many times she was warned to back off, she refused," said Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dywer. "She came forward at the officers kind of started pushing. He kind of pushed back, she tripped over, she was taken to the ground, she was picked up.”
The woman's name is Nancy Hooks. She was arrested and charged with hindering, failing to move and released on $10,000 cash bond.
According to Warren Police, Hooks has not filed an excessive force complaint against the department at this time.
Warren police do not wear body cameras, but said they're hoping to have the funding soon.
