L.A. declines to prosecute CHP officer for assault caught on video

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has declined to file charges against a former California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer caught on video savagely beating a woman walking along the side of the Santa Monica Freeway in July 2014. Earlier this month, the district attorney’s office stated that the case was still under review more than one year after the officer, Daniel Andrew, had resigned from the CHP and approximately 13 months after interviewing the victim in the case, Marlene Pinnock.

Pinnock was walking alongside the freeway near LaBrea Avenue when Andrew attempted to stop her from going into traffic. The original, raw video of the assault has since been removed from YouTube. However, you can catch enough of it here.

The DA released the following statement:

Based upon the facts presented, there was a lawful necessity for Andrew to use force to prevent Pinnock from entering the lanes of traffic and there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the force he used was unreasonable or excessive.

The DA’s office also stated that the former officer acted within the law, and that “In our analysis, his use of force was legal and necessary to protect not only his own life but also that of Ms. Pinnock.”

The CHP settled a lawsuit with Pinnock last year for $1.5 million, the majority of which will be set aside for her into a special needs account. Pinnock suffers from bipolar disorder.