'Bystander' tackled to the ground by cop

The young female pedestrian was not even taking part in the student riot when the US police officer in riot gear charged at her from nowhere.

Observers reacted with disgust as the woman was bowled into a park bench, well away from the main activity.

The officer then walks away without attempting to restrain or arrest her for any offence, as another woman is heard saying that she was just trying to find a way around the crowd to reach her car parked on the other side of the street.

The footage, lasting one minute and 20 seconds, does not reveal much more context than that. 

The incident unfolded on the night of March 29 as University of Arizona students took to the streets in Tucson in a disorderly display of disappointment after their college basketball team was knocked out of a prestigious national tournament. 

The online community, which has watched the video more than 100,000 times on YouTube, appeared in favour of blaming the officer for what they view as senseless brutality. 

"If you slow the YouTube down frame by frame you will see she does nothing [to provoke the officer]," one commenter said.

"She was just standing there, not attacking anyone," said another.

Others were more cautious.

"Perhaps... Just perhaps, she should not have walked TOWARDS the riot police," one said.

Source: YouTube

Author: Erin Tennant, Approving editor: Martin Zavan