Carlsbad police officers punching Cindy Hahn in the face during an arrest.

Carlsbad police officers punching Cindy Hahn in the face during an arrest.

She says it all started after she asked a Carlsbad police officer what was going on as he stood in front of a car with its doors open and the vehicle’s alarm blaring. “And he says, ‘Is this your car?’ And I said, ‘No, sir.’ And he says, ‘Then mind your own [expletive] business,’ ” she said. Stunned, Hahn says she told a man nearby what the officer said and together they decided she should do something about it so she started to take video. She alleges that the officer continued cursing at her, which led her to call police to report him. She then left.

Cindy Hahn is the daughter of a retired police officer. She was on her way home from a birthday party with her children when they stopped to use the restroom: Only a few minutes later, that same officer pulled her over for an alleged seat belt violation. Next thing she knows, Cindy—who appeared to be wearing a bathing suit and cover-up— was tackled and punched by the officer, all in front of her children. Watch:

She was charged with felony resisting arrest and battery on a peace officer. It took two years, but those charges were eventually dropped after the District Attorney viewed the above video. She's now filed a lawsuit against the city of Carlsbad. The city has hired a private law firm and appears to be doubling down on their defense of the officer's action:



The city of Carlsbad issued the following statement: "The city of Carlsbad looks forward to bringing this lawsuit before the proper judicial authorities as soon as possible. We are prepared to provide a complete and detailed account of the facts of this incident in a courtroom, not in the media."

See an interview with Cindy Hahn and her attorney, courtesy of ABC 7 Los Angeles: