A Cape Girardeau police officer got more than he bargained for when he answered a call about shots fired.

What he found when he arrived was a large street fight.

As you can see, when he went to arrest one suspect a woman approaches the officer.

He pushed her away and when she came back again swinging, the officer punched her.

The Cape Girardeau Police Chief stands by what the officer did saying there's always a fear that a person will go for the officer's weapon.

"Of course the major fear is that person may try to go for the weapon or the taser or one of the other weapons that the officer is carrying so you are always trained to keep anyone as far away from you as possible," says Chief Carl Kinnison.

Kinnison says this type of incident between officers and resident happens about six times a year, but is rarely caught on camera.