The Fort Collins police officer under investigation for his use of force during a March 29 arrest at Target has resigned following a recommendation for his firing.

Video footage of the arrest was released Thursday evening.

After an internal affairs investigation, Fort Collins Police Services Chief Jeff Swoboda said Thursday that the recommendation by Officer Todd Hopkins' chain of command was for him to be fired. Swoboda was scheduled to have what's called a predecision hearing with Hopkins on Tuesday, but the officer submitted his resignation effective immediately prior to the hearing and Swoboda's final decision.

Swoboda said in an interview that when he first saw the footage, he was "disturbed" by the "unnecessary use of force" and what appeared to be actions that were inconsistent with agency training.

Fort Collins police trains its officers to use "the least amount of force necessary to effect a lawful arrest," he said.

More: Police use of force a balancing act for Northern Colorado law enforcement

Hopkins was reportedly driving home from a shift March 29 when a shoplifting call came in at Target at 105 W. Troutman Pkwy. He was close by and was the first officer to arrive to the store. Because his shift had just ended, Hopkins was not wearing a body-mounted camera, which was charging at the police station.

Prior to Hopkins' arrival, a Target loss-prevention officer was fighting with suspect Natasha Patnode, who allegedly shoplifted $419 worth of merchandise.

Hopkins tried to arrest Patnode for several minutes before another officer arrived to help, surveillance footage shows. Hopkins grabbed Patnode by the collar and took her to the ground, used OC spray and sat on top of her as he tried to handcuff her while she had one arm either inside of or holding onto her purse underneath her.

The officer struck Patnode with his fist and baton more than 50 times.

After on-duty Officer Mike Natalzia arrived at the scene, he used a Taser twice on Patnode, body camera footage shows.

After both of Patnode's hands were behind her back, Hopkins uses his Taser on her, which can be seen about 8:15 minutes into the body camera footage.

Before Tasers were deployed, Patnode complained to Hopkins that she couldn't put her hand behind her back because of the position he placed her in. She later complained that she was having trouble breathing and can be heard groaning in the video.

The officers continued to struggle with Patnode after she was handcuffed. Hopkins remained on top of her, at one point asking what she was reaching for underneath her and telling her to let go of her purse. After Hopkins struck her again, her purse was thrown across the room.

Patnode was then turned around, face up, as others first-responders arrived at the scene.

Following the arrest, Hopkins can be heard in the video telling Patnode that he didn't know if she had a weapon, and she told the officer that he should have just asked her.

"You cannot beat me like you were," Patnode can be heard telling Hopkins in the video.

"I can strike you, I can restrain you, I can Tase you — you were resisting arrest," Hopkins replied.

Per police agency policy, because force was used, supervisors reviewed the video footage on April 2. Hopkins was placed on paid administrative leave April 3. On April 4, then-interim Chief Terry Jones requested a third-party investigation into the actions of the officer.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation and forwarded its findings to the District Attorney's Office. The District Attorney's Office declined to file criminal charges, and Hopkins returned to administrative duty on May 21.

"While disturbing to watch, it should be noted that Ms. Patnode repeatedly ignored commands, refused to remove her hand from underneath her, and refused to surrender the purse, which was also underneath her," stated District Attorney Cliff Riedel in a letter clearing the officer of criminal wrongdoing. "Those actions by Ms. Patnode only reinforced Officer Hopkins' concerns that the suspect may have a weapon of some type in her purse."

Still, Hopkins' chain of command had to complete its own review.

"Just because something is deemed lawful from the district attorney doesn't mean it's appropriate" or "in line with our training," Swoboda said in an interview.

Hopkins' chain of command recommended termination of his employment. The review determined he had violated the agency's use of force policy and his actions were inconsistent with officers' training. Hopkins was placed back on leave in August.

During that time, the Northern Colorado Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 and the Citizen Review Board conducted their own reviews. The review board agreed with the findings of the internal affairs review. The FOP also reviewed the file and confirmed that policy had been violated.

FOP president Chris Renn said Hopkins was a very dedicated and well-respected officer who "gave almost 20 years of his life to this community."

"Unfortunately, this is a very high stakes profession, and most of the time we get it right," Renn said. "But when we don't, there could be some severe consequences."

Swoboda was tasked with making the final decision on disciplinary action, but prior to his Tuesday hearing with Hopkins, the officer resigned.

If there's one positive takeaway from the incident, Swoboda said, it's that the agency policed itself. He hopes that will earn the police department some trust within the community. Swoboda added that self-policing represents that the agency's culture is in a good place.

More: How Northern Colorado police train on use of force

"It's important that (the community) knows how seriously we took this," he said. In a video message, he added that it's also important for the community to know the agency has high standards.

"And if we ever find that we don't rise to level of expectations not only of ourselves but this community, we will hold ourselves accountable as we have in this case," he said.

Swoboda also credits Jones for having the foresight to ask for a third-party review into the officer's actions.

"I feel that the investigation from the onset was handled appropriately," he said.

As with other cases in which force is used and debriefings occur, Swoboda said this incident could be used in future defensive tactics training so officers learn how to respond in similar situations.

The Target loss-prevention officer and Patnode were injured in the incident, according to an April news release from police spokeswoman Kate Kimble. Patnode pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and resisting arrest on Sept. 12, and her shoplifting charge was dismissed.

More: Off-duty Fort Collins police officer in video arrest violated policies, review finds

Timeline

March 29: Suspect Natasha Patnode is arrested

April 2: Internal affairs investigation begins

April 3: Fort Collins Police Officer Todd Hopkins is placed on paid administrative leave

April 4: Larimer County Sheriff's Office begins an independent criminal investigation

May 17: District Attorney Cliff Riedel releases a letter clearing the officer of criminal culpability

Aug. 17: After recommendation by chain of command for termination, Hopkins is placed on leave again

Sept. 18: Pre-decision hearing scheduled; Hopkins resigns

Reporter Saja Hindi covers public safety, courts and accountability. Follow her on Twitter @BySajaHindi or email her at shindi@coloradoan.com.