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Judge To Rule on Philly Cop's Slap of Woman at Puerto Rican Day Incident

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Final testimony and closing arguments were heard today in the trial of a former Philadelphia police lieutenant charged with striking a woman at a Puerto Rican Day celebration last September.

The incident was caught on tape (see related story), and the subsequent investigation led to Josey's termination from the force (another related story).

Police officers testified that a beer-drinking crowd was out of hand, that bottles were  breaking around them, that cops were being doused in liquid, and insults were being shouted as the crowd was ordered by police to move back in order to clear the area around several officers involved in the process of arresting a motorist.

It was during that time, says Jonathan Josey, a lieutenant in the Philadelphia Police Department's highway patrol, that he ordered 40-year-old Aida Guzman of Chester, Pa. to drop her beer bottle.

Josey said that when she didn't, he attempted to swat the bottle with an open hand from her and "was shocked," he said, when he saw her fall to the ground.

Guzman, through a translator, testified she was struck with a closed hand to her mouth.  She said she was bleeding as she was arrested.   Guzman said she did not throw beer on any officers.

But a police officer testified that he did see her throw beer.

The next court date is February 26th.  That's when the judge is expected to announce if Josey is guilty or not guilty of simple assault against Guzman.

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