"Assaults the girl"?? Sorry I didn't see that. I saw an officer who apparently believed the felon they were pursuing was in the apartment, and two-three young women with chips on their shoulders and frankly behaving very much like they had something to hide.
That said, I would encourage those young ladies to take their case to court, because the felon was apparently /not/ in the apartment and perhaps it was an illegal entrance (I am unaware of the actual laws where that was taken as they do vary), they might win their case and institute a change in policies for the police department, or at a minimum, induce said officer for training on the specifics of that city/states particular laws. Of course, I have a feeling that the women's action itself only exasperated the officer's belief that they were hiding the felon, and may, in fact, excuse any 'unlawful' entry in a court of law.
Regardless, the officer was patient and polite throughout the situation; which in the bigger picture is a far better option than to over-emotionally react as the young ladies did.
I'd actually be quite curious to know more specifics on the case. I find myself torn between the individual right to freedom of privacy and the supposed pursuing of a felon into a private home... On the surface, I revert to, "I have nothing to hide, so feel free to come in and look around," but at the same time I do not feel that officers should be able to enter anyone's home at their whim either. Of course, if they were pursuing a felon, I'd obviously want said felon caught... Its a bit of a moral conundrum and I'm actually not quite sure where I stand on it.
