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Woman in Fort Collins arrest video: 'I was so humiliated'

Posted at 6:17 AM, Apr 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-13 20:00:47-04

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A Fort Collins woman who was thrown to the sidewalk before being arrested is speaking out.

Michaella Surat, 22, talked to ABC News Thursday. She said the ordeal has left her physically and emotionally hurt. Her family claims she suffered several bruises, a concussion and a chin contusion.

Video of the incident shows a Fort Collins Police officer slamming Surat to the ground outside the Bondi Beach Bar the evening of April 6. 

Police say Surat was subdued after she physically obstructed and struck an officer. Police had said the procedure was a "standard arrest control."

The Colorado State University student tearfully told Good Morning America that it felt like "all my bones were shattering in my face...and I was so humiliated and everyone was watching me."

She said she fears she has become a target because of the viral video.

"I can't go to school without worrying someone's going to assault me, I'm getting death threats," said Surat.

Surat explained to ABC News how the events unfolded.

"I found out my boyfriend got kicked out of the bar and so I went outside just to see what happened -- and then the altercation happened and one thing led to another and it just escalated," she said.

The chief of the Fort Collins police is pledging to conduct a fair investigation. In a statement Sunday evening, Chief John Hutto says "As with most events of this type, the short, publicly-available video does not have the context or content of the full event. Additionally, rarely in use of force situations is there agreement from all the parties involved as to the appropriateness, efficacy, or necessity of its use. These questions are only answered through the analysis of all the evidence after the fact."

Hutto says he will not release the video from officers' body cameras until the investigation is complete.

Surat's attorney, Andrew Bertrand, called the video disturbing and added that the officer "was very aggressive."

Surat was arrested and booked into the Larimer County Jail on charges of third-degree assault and obstructing a peace officer.

Thursday afternoon, Fort Collins Police Chief John Hutto announced the officer involved in the incident, Randall Klamser, has been put on paid administrative leave, though the leave is "not disciplinary in nature," the chief said.

Chief Hutto added that the department's professional standards unit has been asked to investigate the incident "so that a clear picture of the events prior to the actual arrest, the arrest itself and the events after Ms. Surat's arrest are fully documented and evaluate."

The unit will also be asked to present their findings to the citizen review board.


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