Police officer hit her during May Day violence, pubradio reporter testifies

A pubradio reporter testified Wednesday (June 30) about being hit by a police officer during a violent May Day event three years ago, according to Courthouse News Service, a nationwide news service for lawyers and the media based in Pasadena, Calif. Patricia Nazario of KPCC in Pasadena told the court she had hidden behind a tree to call her editor when a police officer stabbed his baton to the right side of her back. Nazario asked him why he did so, the officer said, "Shut up, move!" then hit her just above her knee, knocking her down, she testified. She said the cellphone she was using to talk to her boss went flying over her head. In a later video deposition, former LAPD Chief William Bratton said the police officers violated the LAPD media policy and used unreasonable force toward the reporters. The judge told the jury the trial should be concluded by the July 4 holiday.