Havasu_Dreamin
06-23-2004, 07:35 PM
LA Times Police Pursuit Article (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-062304beating_lat.story)
Video Shows Police Hitting Suspect After Pursuit
One police source alleges that the suspect offered at least some resistance.
By Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton, Times Staff Writers
One of several Los Angeles police officers who chased a stolen car suspect down a Compton wash path today was captured on live television trying to kick the man and then hitting him several times with a flashlight after it appeared he had surrendered.
LAPD officials immediately launched an investigation into whether the officer used excessive force in the incident, which began with reports of a hit-and-run driver on the 105 Freeway and ended in a car and foot pursuit.
The man in news footage shot from a helicopter is shown pulling the car into a dead-end street and then running north on a grassy path along a Compton wash.
After about 30 yards, the man appears to surrender by putting his hands in the air and dropping to the ground. Then as two officers have him on the ground, the third officer arrives and is seen apparently trying to kick the suspect in the head and striking his upper back and neck at least 11 times with a flashlight.
LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Berkow said the suspect, Stanley Miller, has been booked for car theft and evading police and is being held at the Parker Center jail. Berkow said Miller was treated for minor injuries, mostly bruising on one of his arms, and released to detectives.
Law enforcement sources familiar with Miller's record said he has five prior convictions for various crimes, including burglary, attempted burglary and weapons charges.
LAPD Chief William J. Bratton, speaking from New York, told The Times: "There is no denying it looks very bad from what is seen on the video. But there should be no rush to judgment before the investigations are completed."
The police chief said he immediately began reaching out to community leaders this morning. "This will be an open and forthright investigation, I assured them."
Bratton said the department launched both criminal and internal investigations into the incident.
"There is no downplaying of the severity of the incident here," Bratton said. "The officers involved have all been put on administrative assignment."
Mayor James Hahn said at an afternoon press conference, "I saw what you saw... it made me angry."
Commentary:WhoTF is the mayor to say something so stupid!?!?!?! He's angry after watching a whole 5-10 seconds of video without even being there and knowing what was going on!?!?! Or taking the time to speak with LAPD Commanders about the status of the investigation!?!?!? No, he's just automatically angry! Sounds like political BS to me!
The Los Angeles Police Commission president, David Cunningham III, said, "I am deeply disturbed after having seen the video. We are going to thoroughly investigate this."
Deputy Chief Mike Hillman cautioned about making judgments based on the news helicopter footage and said the man did resist arrest.
"You cannot tell what the use of force was from the video," Hillman said.
What video does not capture is what the officers may have heard on the ground and what they believed was unfolding, Hillman said.
Because the suspect filed a brutality complaint, an internal investigation was launched. In addition, Hillman said, detectives from the 77th Division were brought in to help investigate the incident, which involved several officers from the Southeast Division.
The incident drew comparisons with the 1991 beating by LAPD officers of motorist Rodney King, also at the end of a pursuit.
Ben Wizner, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said, "We had hoped we would not see things like this anymore in Los Angeles. This department knows the importance of conducting a thorough and open investigation. It has seen the consequences of what can happen here when the community loses faith in the process."
Commentary: Ultimately, I don't give a rats ass as I don't live int he City of LA but who cares, he stole a car and ran from the police, obviusly he can't function as what would be considered a "normal" member of society.
Video Shows Police Hitting Suspect After Pursuit
One police source alleges that the suspect offered at least some resistance.
By Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton, Times Staff Writers
One of several Los Angeles police officers who chased a stolen car suspect down a Compton wash path today was captured on live television trying to kick the man and then hitting him several times with a flashlight after it appeared he had surrendered.
LAPD officials immediately launched an investigation into whether the officer used excessive force in the incident, which began with reports of a hit-and-run driver on the 105 Freeway and ended in a car and foot pursuit.
The man in news footage shot from a helicopter is shown pulling the car into a dead-end street and then running north on a grassy path along a Compton wash.
After about 30 yards, the man appears to surrender by putting his hands in the air and dropping to the ground. Then as two officers have him on the ground, the third officer arrives and is seen apparently trying to kick the suspect in the head and striking his upper back and neck at least 11 times with a flashlight.
LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Berkow said the suspect, Stanley Miller, has been booked for car theft and evading police and is being held at the Parker Center jail. Berkow said Miller was treated for minor injuries, mostly bruising on one of his arms, and released to detectives.
Law enforcement sources familiar with Miller's record said he has five prior convictions for various crimes, including burglary, attempted burglary and weapons charges.
LAPD Chief William J. Bratton, speaking from New York, told The Times: "There is no denying it looks very bad from what is seen on the video. But there should be no rush to judgment before the investigations are completed."
The police chief said he immediately began reaching out to community leaders this morning. "This will be an open and forthright investigation, I assured them."
Bratton said the department launched both criminal and internal investigations into the incident.
"There is no downplaying of the severity of the incident here," Bratton said. "The officers involved have all been put on administrative assignment."
Mayor James Hahn said at an afternoon press conference, "I saw what you saw... it made me angry."
Commentary:WhoTF is the mayor to say something so stupid!?!?!?! He's angry after watching a whole 5-10 seconds of video without even being there and knowing what was going on!?!?! Or taking the time to speak with LAPD Commanders about the status of the investigation!?!?!? No, he's just automatically angry! Sounds like political BS to me!
The Los Angeles Police Commission president, David Cunningham III, said, "I am deeply disturbed after having seen the video. We are going to thoroughly investigate this."
Deputy Chief Mike Hillman cautioned about making judgments based on the news helicopter footage and said the man did resist arrest.
"You cannot tell what the use of force was from the video," Hillman said.
What video does not capture is what the officers may have heard on the ground and what they believed was unfolding, Hillman said.
Because the suspect filed a brutality complaint, an internal investigation was launched. In addition, Hillman said, detectives from the 77th Division were brought in to help investigate the incident, which involved several officers from the Southeast Division.
The incident drew comparisons with the 1991 beating by LAPD officers of motorist Rodney King, also at the end of a pursuit.
Ben Wizner, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said, "We had hoped we would not see things like this anymore in Los Angeles. This department knows the importance of conducting a thorough and open investigation. It has seen the consequences of what can happen here when the community loses faith in the process."
Commentary: Ultimately, I don't give a rats ass as I don't live int he City of LA but who cares, he stole a car and ran from the police, obviusly he can't function as what would be considered a "normal" member of society.