(Image Source: KNBC)

BY CHARLES MCKEAGUE

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

Mr. Bigshot! A California police officer gets caught on camera throwing a vicious elbow. The victim - allegedly a special needs citizen. A key eye witness tells KNBC what he saw.  

“It was very obvious that she had special needs. ... She cusses him out calls him the big shot. Next thing you know he gives her a big shot.  Green captured the incident with his cell phone video camera. I couldn’t believe it. I mean he seen me taping him. He looked up at the camera a few times and he still hit her like that. He didn’t try to diffuse the situation at all.”

Coverage of the incident is scare so far - but an article on News One gives a little more background into how it all started.

“Police asked the special needs woman, who was carrying several pillows, to get off the bus. The officers then grabbed and punched her after she refused.”

WHDH in Boston says the man with the video - was determined not to hand over his camera.  He is a veteran with no record - and was well aware of his rights.

“Green claims the deputies then tried to intimidate him when he refused to hand over his video camera. … Why didn’t want Green to hand over this video to deputies involved?

Green: “I think they would try to cover it up.  I think lot of stuff gets covered and people need to come forward if they see something, because it can’t be fixed unless its brought to the public’s attention.”

KNBC says it contacted the L.A. country sheriffs department and were told the department didn’t have any interest in seeing the video - but it would like to look into the allegations.