PHILADELPHIA -
The now former Philadelphia Police lieutenant captured on YouTube video striking a woman during the city's Puerto Rican Day Parade will face a judge after being charged with simple assault.
Jonathan Josey was charged by Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams Thursday.
FOX 29's Jeff Cole reports the DA has eyeballed the now infamous tape so many times that it's left him able to describe Josey's every move.
All of it leading to the simple assault charge.
"It was my determination to charge Jonathan Josey with simple assault, charging as a misdemeanor in the second degree," Williams said.
The charge means the 19-year veteran caught on camera knocking 39-year-old Aida Guzman to the ground during a late September street party will be charged like a common criminal.
The video that captured the incident has already claimed his job.
FOX 29 has learned more about what both sides believe happened that day.
Josey's attorney, Fortunato Perri Jr., says his client was trying to arrest a driver doing "donuts" along 5th and Lehigh when he became upset that he and other officers were sprayed with some type of liquid.
His attorney claims he spun around to find Guzman holding a beer, and as he moved to arrest her for disorderly conduct, he swung to knock the beer out of her grasp.
The video shows a strike to Guzman's face and her attorney, Enrique Latoison, admits his client was holding a beer but did not spray the police. He believes Josey was swinging for her head.
"We are pleased with the charge and we will work with the prosecution to keep him from being reinstated," Latoison said.
Josey is expected to turn himself in Friday.
Guzman's attorney says he has not filed a civil claim against the city, but seemed to indicate to FOX 29's Jeff Cole that he's likely to do just that.
