By Police1 Staff
EUGENE, Ore. — Video taken by a bystander shows a Eugene police officer responding to a heated child custody issue, during which he was bitten and responded by administering a backhanded slap to the boy.
The boy initially ran from officers at a park at the urging of his mother’s friends Stephanie Johnston, 28, is the boy’s mother and has had custody of the boy, 10, against court orders. The father, Brian Wolfe, was awarded full custody, according to Lane Today.
Police believe the boy has never attended school and is illiterate.
The 18-minute video shows friends of the mother harassing the officers as they follow them to their vehicle.
“You do not hit that child. You do not hit an underage child,” a woman repeatedly screams.
A second boy can be heard cursing and threatening the officers throughout the video, claiming to know the Mexican mafia and threatening to “blow up” the orphanage or juvenile hall to free his friend.
The officer whose hand was bitten received a very minor injury, according to a press release from EPD.
No charges have been filed, and the case is being referred to Lane County District Attorney’s Office, the report states.