Nobody here seems to be denying the guy had his right hand raised, clenched, and able to strike. Does the majority here feel that the officer needed to wait to be punched? If punched, possibly injured, would the action taken by the officer then be viewed as ok? There is nothing that says we have to wait to be punched before using force. This guy exhibited non-compliance from the beginning, then turned around and became confrontational, and then showed a raised clenched fist. Until you've been on the ground, fighting for your life, waiting for backup, you can't relate to how quickly a situation can turn dangerous. Drunks, as well as people on narcotics and folks with mental problems are the most dangerous encounters. It seems the majority would rather see one less officer on the street, off due to injury, and possibly even allowing the you to escape, as opposed to the outcome that took place. Yes, the DOJ is here, but that does not mean taking second guesses prior to taking action because of their presence. An officer is killed on average every 2 days in this country, and a good majority can be attributed to an officer don't taking proper action to stop a threat, for fear of discipline or causing injury to the person. I've said all I've got to say, though will continue to follow the thread.