The man who took cellphone video of a California Highway Patrol officer as he straddled and hit a woman repeatedly in the face on a Southern California freeway was honored Saturday by a Los Angeles activist group.
David Diaz was given the LA Urban Policy Roundtable's Civic Engagement Award in a ceremony held near the scene of the caught-on-camera confrontation.
"To be honest, this is the first time I've actually gotten an award for anything," Diaz said. "So this is a big deal for me, and I thought that I would have to do something superhero-like to get some sort of award."
Diaz posted the video that shows an unnamed CHP officer hitting 51-year-old Marlene Pinnock after she was found walking on the side of the 10 Freeway on July 1.
The footage sparked outrage among Pinnock's family and civil rights groups calling for the firing of the officer and calls by a California legislator for the Department of Justice to investigate.
Diaz said during the ceremony that he wants to set an example for people who see something that doesn't look right.
The CHP officer was placed on desk duty.
