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Philadelphia's Hispanic Community Awaiting Results of Officer-Punches-Woman Probe

By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Latino community leaders in Philadelphia were out in the neighborhood today, trying to keep emotions in check following the release of a video showing a commander in the Philadelphia Police Department striking a woman during Sunday's Puerto Rican Day celebration.

Quetcy Lozada, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, says folks are upset but most are willing to let investigation by the police department's Internal Affairs unit run its course.

"We hope there will be a positive outcome," she told KYW Newsradio today.

The video depicts Lt. Jonathan Josey, a supervisor in the Highway Patrol unit, slapping 39-year-old Aida Guzman to the ground (see related story).

Lozada says Josey overreacted to the situation.

"He should have been an example to his guys.  He could have caused an all-out war had the community reacted in a different way," she said today.

Guzman claims she did nothing wrong, yet she was issued a citation for disorderly conduct.

The confrontation happened at 5th Street and Lehigh Avenue, as a crowd watched police make a car stop.

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