The woman who was captured on cellphone video being beaten by a California Highway Patrol officer on the side of a Los Angeles freeway reached a $1.5 million settlement with the department on Wednesday, according to her attorney, Caree Harper.
The settlement included a provision that the officer involved, identified as Daniel Andrew, would resign.
Video of the violent arrest, which occurred on the side of the 10 Freeway near La Brea Avenue on July 1, was filmed by a passing motorist.
It showed 51-year-old Marlene Pinnock walking away from the officer along the shoulder of the roadway.
The officer was then seen walking up behind Pinnock, grabbing her and throwing her to the ground. He then straddled the great-grandmother and began repeatedly punching her in the face and upper body.
The beating lasted for up to 15 seconds, according to the video.
Pinnock told KTLA back in August that she thought the officer was going to kill her.
“I was scared for my life, cause he just wouldn’t stop beating me,” she said. “I didn’t know when he was going to stop.”
Pinnock stated at the time that she wanted the officer fired.
She filed a lawsuit about two weeks after the incident alleging use of excessive force by the CHP officer as well as civil rights violations.
On Wednesday evening, CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow, who was named in the complaint, issued the following statement:
“When this incident occurred, I promised that I would look into it and vowed a swift resolution. Today, we have worked constructively to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to all parties involved.
I am thankful to the attorneys representing both sides who worked cooperatively and diligently to resolve this civil lawsuit.
The bulk of the settlement establishes a special needs trust for Ms. Pinnock to provide a mechanism for her long term care. Additionally, Officer Andrew has elected to resign.
I very much appreciate the trust the public has placed in our organization to address this issue and resolve it responsibly.”
Andrew faced “potentially serious” criminal charges in connection with the incident, CHP announced last month in a news release.
It was not immediately clear, however, what charges against the officer had been recommended.
Local civil rights leaders have scheduled a 10 a.m. news conference for Thursday to announce a new campaign pushing for Andrews to be prosecuted.
“Our call has always been for L.A. County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to prosecute Andrew for beating Pinnock,” Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson and Project Islamic Hope Director Najee Ali stated in a news release. “The settlement with her changes nothing. If anything it makes a prosecution more urgent now than ever.”
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KTLA’s Tracy Bloom contributed to this report.