US police release body cam video of officer tackling and punching young woman

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US police have released body cam footage of a frightening altercation that involved an officer pinning a young beachgoer to the ground and punching her in the head several times.

Wildwood Police Department was forced to defend its officers after a video, posted by a witness, of a girl being manhandled and hit went viral last week. The video, which was posted on Twitter, has been viewed more than six million times.

In the police footage, an officer carries out a breath test on 20-year-old Emily Weinman after finding alcohol among her belongings on the beach.

The young woman passes the test twice, claiming the drinks belonged to her aunt before refusing to give the officers her last name. Then then issued her with a fine.

“You don’t need to write my name down,” she can be heard saying to police. “You thought we were drinking so now you’re mad because your breathalyser came up negative.”

“Ok, that’s it. I’m done with you, ” the officer with the body cam says before going after Ms Weinman and telling her “you’re about to get dropped.”

The situation escalates when Weinman puts her hands up to defend the fast-approaching officer, who brings her down by her hair and punches her in the head twice when she continues to resist.

Shocked onlookers can be heard shouting “woah, what are you doing?” amidst Weinman’s screams.

The officers then handcuff her and put her into a police vehicle and has since been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on an officer and possession of alcohol as a minor.

Wildwood Police chief Robert Regalbuto has defended the officers’ actions.

“From what I see on the video and only on the video, from not even talking to the officers, I think they did a decent job,” he told US news sources.

“I think we could have done a better job at trying to explain to her, but it didn’t appear Ms Weinman wanted to hear what we had to say.”

The two patrolmen have been placed on administrative duties while the incident continues to be investigated.