Phoenix police release body cam video of alleged assault of officer by 13-year-old girl

PHOENIX — Phoenix police released body cam video Tuesday of an incident where a 13-year-old girl was arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer.

The girl was arrested after she struck an officer who instructed her to stay back while police were taking suspects of a car theft into custody at an apartment complex near 59th Avenue and McDowell Road at about 4:30 p.m. Monday.

A female officer saw the girl approaching other officers who had a man in custody and grabbed the teen’s arm to pull her back, with the girl then proceeding to swing her arm at the officer and strike her on the right side of her face.

The officer responded by striking the girl in the face, police said in a press release, with the officer’s body-worn camera being knocked off during the scuffle.

A video (WARNING: Explicit language) of the incident was released by Phoenix Police in response to clips of the incident circulating social media.

The teen was booked into the Juvenile Correction Center after being evaluated for minor injuries, police said.

A man, identified as 25-year-old Javon Johnson, was also booked into the Maricopa County Jail after punching an officer in the face during the incident and grabbing onto an officer’s gun before he was restrained, authorities said.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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