New Jersey

Woman Punched by Officer Reaches Plea Deal

Emily Weinman faced more serious charges, including aggravated assault on a police officer.

A Philadelphia woman whose violent 2018 arrest at a New Jersey beach was captured on video has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, officials confirmed Friday.

Emily Weinman, 20 at the time of the arrest, will serve one year of probation for disorderly conduct and must stay out of Wildwood during the probation period, Cape May County prosecutors said. She had faced charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault by spitting bodily fluids at/on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Video of Weinman's arrest at a Wildwood beach over the Memorial Day weekend showed three police officers holding her down on the sand. One officer punches her in the face and back of the head as they restrain her.

The confrontation began when Weinman repeatedly refused to give the Wildwood officers her name as they questioned her about the presence of alcoholic beverages on the beach.

Weinman had rejected another plea deal in July of last year. The officers were cleared of criminal charges after authorities reviewed the video, as well as police body-cam footage.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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