US woman in videotaped beach arrest rejects plea offer

A Philadelphia woman whose violent arrest at a New Jersey beach in May was captured on video has rejected a plea deal and will seek entry into a pretrial program that could lead to the charge being dismissed.

Emily Weinman was in court on Thursday.

The 20-year-old Weinman was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer after the confrontation that began when she repeatedly refused to give Wildwood officers her name when they questioned her about the presence of alcoholic beverages on the beach.

A video shot by a nearby beachgoer showed an officer punching her twice in the head as she lies prone on the sand, her legs flailing.

The officers involved were cleared of wrongdoing after authorities reviewed that video and police body-cam footage.

The bodycam video reveals tensions escalating between officers and Weinman after she took a breathalyser test that she appeared to pass.

When Weinman refused to give police her surname she walked away from them.

One officer is then heard telling her: “You’re about to get dropped” moments before the physical altercation.

Wildwood Police Department has placed the officers involved on administrative duties and started an investigation.

The department said on its Facebook page that Weinman faces several charges, including two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.