I'm not sure what I would do in that situation, but if some guy came at me with a gun drawn, and all I had was a pipe, I might try to hit him too.
Looks like what the BG was doing. He's clearly backing up during the video as the officer closes with weapon presented. Actually looks like BG is swinging at the officers extended weapon not the officer.
Why's the cop walking into the conflict with weapon extended when he's already at a distance measured in single digit feet? Trying to get into muzzle contact? Don't make good sense to hold your handgun out into striking distance of BG. What's the point of closure to fist fight distance with your handgun leading the way? And that ain't much of a "steel pipe". Yeah, BG's a DA for bringing a baton to a gun fight. But personally wouldn't want that particular officer serving the public on my street.
