Caught on tape: Officer strangles woman, punches man in the face

The video is shocking. It shows a young woman grabbed by her neck and pushed backward onto a table.

It was that scene which caused another nightclub patron to approach the officer. Just minutes later the officer punches the man in the face.

A security manager at the club says the tape doesn't show the man hitting the officer first.

"We're not running with the race card, this is an African-American cop that we have issues with," said civil rights activist John C. Barnette.

Barnette met with Salisbury's mayor, police chief, and the young woman about the alleged assault.

"I realized as soon as I saw it that it was something that would need to be investigated," said Salisbury mayor Susan Kluttz.

Barnette says this video is causing more people to come forward with complaints about police officers.

"It saddens me to know that I get emails every night about police harassment," said Barnette.

"I was disappointed to hear that because I think people in this community have great respect for our police chief," said Kluttz.

The Salisbury police department is investigating the alleged attack. The officer in the video, Kareem Purando, has been suspended with pay.