A South Los Angeles woman who had dropped her two children off at a police station later died after an encounter with officers in which one of them kicked her in the groin.

Alesia Thomas, a drug addict who feared she could not care for her children, reportedly resisted when officers moved to arrest her. A patrol camera caught police in a struggle with Thomas that included one officer stomping on her genitals, as well as additional force. Footage then shows Thomas breathing shallowly in the back seat of a police car. She was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to a hospital.

An initial official account did not mention the kick by a female officer. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said in a statement that he wanted investigators to determine whether drugs or a medical condition could have played a role in Thomas’ death. Two witnesses said they thought police had treated Thomas fairly.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.