Officer Matthew Rodriguez, 36, has been charged with assault and battery after he was caught on tape violently assaulting a woman after she was stopped, driving a wanted man’s car in San Jose

In the shocking video recorded in a McDonald’s parking lot in San Jose on July 22, Rodriguez is seen kicking the woman in the abdomen while she was kneeling on the asphalt and trying to comply with his commands

She was then handcuffed, hands behind her, with another officer pointing a gun at her, with another woman and two children, 7 and 3, screaming from the back seat of the car

Rodriguez grabbed the woman by her rear cuffed arms and dragged her face first across the asphalt, for several feet away from the car

The police report states that the officer reported that the victim was not complying with his commands. The footage however, contradicted the officer’s report as the victim is seen trying to comply

The woman sustained contusions and lacerations to her face, stomach, and legs from the violent assault.

The footage was recorded by a DoorDash employee who was in the area

Following the incident, Rodriguez, an 11-year veteran of the force, was placed on administrative leave

The victim was booked into Santa Clara County Jail for driving on a suspended license, possession of paraphernalia, and resisting arrest

She was later released and after a review of the case, with the District Attorney’s Office declining to file charges against her

A San Jose police officer has been charged with assault after a DoorDash worker’s video showed him kicking a woman in the stomach and dragging her along the ground after he stopped her because she was driving a wanted man’s car. 
Matthew Rodriguez, 36, of the San Jose Police Department was indicted following the violent arrest of a woman in a McDonald’s parking lot on July 22.  

Rodriguez and another officer reported that they located a car that was wanted for evading police on two separate occasions, according to a press release from the San Jose District Attorney’s Office.
On one of those occasions, it was reported that the driver was male, but when the officers drove up behind the car, it was being driven by a 39-year-old woman. 

San Jose Officer, Matthew Rodriguez, 36, was indicted following this violent assault on a woman in a McDonald’s parking lot, on July 22

Another woman was sitting in the passenger seat and two children, aged seven and three, were in the back seat. 

The video was recorded by a DoorDash worker who was picking up a delivery order when he noticed the incident unfold. 
In the video, Rodriguez, an 11-year veteran on the force and was assigned to SJPD’s Violent Crimes Enforcement Team, ordered the driver out of the car with his gun drawn. 
The woman complied and got down on the ground when ordered by the officer. 

He then told the woman, ‘I’m going to kick you in the (expletive) face,’ before kicking her in the stomach. 
Rodriguez then dragged her for several feet away from the car by her handcuffs. 
The police report states that officer reported that she was not complying with his commands. The footage however, contradicted the officer’s report. The victim is seen trying to comply with the commands. 
The woman sustained contusions and lacerations to her face, stomach, and legs from the violent assault.

Following the incident, Rodriguez was placed on administrative leave. Officials said he will self-surrender on the warrant and will be arraigned on the misdemeanor charge when the court schedules that first appearance. 
If convicted, Rodriguez faces one year in jail. 
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in the press release: ‘Officers have a difficult job, but they also should be held to a high standard. No officer should use more force than necessary to take a person into custody. 
‘When they do, they not only commit a crime, they weaken the bonds of trust with the community that so many excellent police officers have worked their entire careers to build. The SJPD detectives assigned to this case conducted a fair, thorough, and professional investigation involving one of their own officers.’
The victim was booked into Santa Clara County Jail for driving on a suspended license, possession of paraphernalia, and resisting arrest. 
She was later released and after a review of the case, with the District Attorney’s Office declining to file charges against her