Ramsey: ‘Deeply troubled’ by video of officer punching woman

Police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey tonight said he was "deeply troubled" by the now-notorious video of Lt. Jonathan Josey punching a woman on the face.

"From what I saw, it's difficult to justify the actions that took place," Ramsey said.

Josey's punch to the woman's head, which knocked her to the ground and bloodied her face, appeared to be a case of excessive force being used to make an arrest, Ramsey said.

The woman, Aida Guzman of Chester, was arrested Sunday for disorderly conduct at a celebration in Nprth Philadelphia following the city's Puerto Rican Day parade. Police apparently thought she was throwing liquid at a group of officers, which led Josey to target her.

Ramsey said police still have not been able to interview Guzman, despite several attempts. He made a public request that she speak to police in order to help move the investigation forward.

Josey, assigned to the highway patrol unit, has been placed on desk duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation.