Cop punches cuffed woman in face five times. She breaks her silence, plans lawsuit.

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Body Camera Video Shows Former Brooklyn Police Sergeant Punching Restrained Woman After Standing on Her Bare Feet

Brooklyn, Ohio — Newly obtained body camera footage has sparked controversy and raised questions about use-of-force policies inside the Brooklyn Police Department after a now-fired sergeant was captured on video repeatedly punching a restrained woman in custody.

The officer, identified as former Sergeant Paul Stein, has been terminated from his position and charged with misdemeanor assault following the September 4 incident. He has pleaded not guilty. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 2.

The woman involved, a resident of Parma whose identity is being withheld at her request, says she continues to suffer emotional trauma months after the encounter. Through her attorney, she has announced plans to file a civil lawsuit against both Stein and the City of Brooklyn this summer.

“It was hard to believe that that was actually me,” the woman said after watching the footage aired publicly for the first time. “I’ve had nightmares from everything that happened.”

Arrest on Outstanding Warrant

According to police records, officers arrested the woman on September 4 on an outstanding warrant for aggravated menacing. Authorities have stated that she was belligerent and uncooperative during the arrest process.

Body camera video obtained by local media shows the woman being escorted into a police facility, where multiple officers immediately surround her. At least seven officers are visible in the footage as she is secured in a restraint chair.

Her hands were already cuffed behind her back. Officers then strapped her ankles into the chair’s lower restraints. The department’s restraint chair policy, obtained through a public records request, outlines procedures for securing combative detainees but does not reference placing pressure on a suspect’s feet or using body weight to immobilize them in that manner.

As officers fastened the restraints, Stein positioned himself behind and above the woman, pressing her shoulders backward against the chair.

“Get Off My Foot”

The most disturbing portion of the footage begins moments later.

Video appears to show Stein placing his boots directly on the woman’s stocking feet while she is restrained. The woman states she was not wearing shoes at the time. She alleges that Stein applied his full body weight—estimated by her attorney at approximately 250 pounds—onto her feet for several minutes.

“I was in a lot of pain,” she said. “He crushed my feet with his boots.”

In the video, the woman can be heard repeatedly shouting, “Get off my foot now.” Her voice grows increasingly strained as she continues to demand that Stein remove his weight.

The footage suggests Stein does not immediately move.

After several seconds of continued pressure, the woman spits toward Stein’s face. Within moments, the video shows Stein responding by delivering a series of punches to her head while she remains strapped into the chair with her hands cuffed behind her back.

Police documentation confirms that the woman sustained visible bruising following the incident.

Use of Force Under Scrutiny

The confrontation has raised serious concerns about the department’s use-of-force policies and officer training, particularly regarding detainees who are already restrained.

The department’s written restraint chair policy does not explicitly authorize officers to stand on a suspect’s feet. In fact, it makes no mention of such a tactic.

Civil rights advocates argue that once a suspect is restrained and unable to move freely, officers have an increased duty to de-escalate rather than escalate the situation.

The woman’s attorney, Keith Hanssbro, has been outspoken in his criticism of Stein’s actions.

“It wasn’t necessary to step on her bare feet with his 250 pounds of weight in his boots for three minutes while she was screaming in pain,” Hanssbro said. “And no one did anything. They let it happen.”

Hanssbro contends that Stein’s actions directly provoked the escalation that followed.

“He has a duty to de-escalate,” Hanssbro said. “Not only did Paul Stein fail in that duty, he actually escalated the situation.”

Criminal Charges and Termination

Following an internal investigation, Brooklyn’s police chief terminated Stein from his position. In February, a special prosecutor charged him with misdemeanor assault.

Court records show that Stein has pleaded not guilty to the charge. His defense attorney has not publicly commented on the case, and attempts to reach Stein for comment have gone unanswered.

The decision to file misdemeanor rather than felony charges has drawn criticism from the woman and her legal team.

When asked whether the charge was sufficient, Hanssbro responded bluntly: “A felony.”

The city and police department have not publicly responded to questions regarding potential policy revisions or disciplinary actions against other officers present during the incident.

The Psychological Toll

For the woman at the center of the case, the physical injuries were only part of the harm.

She describes experiencing nightmares and ongoing psychological distress since the incident. Mental health experts note that traumatic encounters involving physical restraint and perceived helplessness can have lasting effects, including anxiety, sleep disturbances, and symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress.

“I’ve had nightmares that I feel stem from everything that I’ve seen and that has happened to me,” she said.

The footage, she added, was difficult to watch.

“It is very difficult for me to watch the video,” she said, describing the experience of seeing herself restrained and struck on camera.

Her attorney plans to seek damages for both physical and emotional injuries in the forthcoming civil suit.

Broader Questions About Oversight

The case has sparked broader questions about oversight and accountability within smaller municipal police departments.

Legal experts say that restraint chairs are intended as safety devices to prevent detainees from harming themselves or others. However, improper use or excessive force while a suspect is immobilized can quickly cross legal boundaries.

Under constitutional standards governing police conduct, force must be objectively reasonable under the circumstances. Once a suspect is fully restrained and poses limited threat, courts have often found that additional force may constitute excessive force.

The presence of multiple officers during the incident has also prompted scrutiny. Advocates question whether any officer attempted to intervene when Stein stood on the woman’s feet or when he began punching her.

National policing standards emphasize that officers have a responsibility not only to avoid misconduct themselves but also to intervene when witnessing excessive force by colleagues.

What Comes Next

Stein’s criminal case is moving forward, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 2. If convicted of misdemeanor assault, he could face potential jail time, probation, fines, or a combination of penalties.

Meanwhile, the civil lawsuit being prepared by Hanssbro is expected to name both Stein and the City of Brooklyn as defendants. Civil litigation could expose the department to financial liability if a court finds that policy failures or inadequate supervision contributed to the incident.

The city has not publicly addressed whether it intends to revise its restraint chair policy or implement additional training in light of the case.

Community members in Brooklyn and surrounding suburbs have expressed concern over the footage, with some calling for independent review of use-of-force practices.

A Case That Resonates

The incident underscores how quickly encounters between police and detainees can escalate—and how critical body camera footage has become in evaluating competing accounts of what occurred.

Without the video, the woman’s allegations may have relied solely on witness testimony and police reports. Instead, the body cam footage provides a visual record that has shaped public perception and prompted legal action.

For the woman, the case is about accountability.

“I just don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” she said.

Her attorney echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that civil litigation can serve as a mechanism for institutional change.

“Officers have tremendous authority,” Hanssbro said. “With that authority comes responsibility. And when that responsibility is violated, there must be consequences.”

As the criminal case proceeds and a civil lawsuit looms, the Brooklyn community—and potentially courts across Ohio—will be watching closely to see how the justice system responds.

The outcome could have lasting implications not only for the former sergeant but also for how restraint and force policies are implemented and enforced in police departments statewide.