LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told the Los Angeles Times Thursday that the department will investigate the July 22 altercation with Alesia Thomas.
Authorities say police tracked down Thomas after she left her 3-year-old and 12-year-old at a police station, surrendering custody because she was a drug addict who could not care for them.
Officers say they were trying to arrest Thomas on suspicion of child endangerment and she resisted.
The incident was caught on the patrol car's camera. In another recent videotaped incident, two officers were shown slamming a handcuffed woman to the ground.
