User Panel
Posted: 7/11/2002 1:24:14 PM EDT
[url]http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/07/11/police.beating/index.html[/url]
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The man who shot the amateur video of Inglewood police beating an African-American teenager was taken into custody Thursday afternoon by officials with the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Michael Crooks was arrested outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau where he was scheduled for an interview. Witnesses said he was screaming as he was driven away by plainclothes officers. He had been scheduled to appear Thursday morning before a grand jury investigating the beating incident but did not appear. Authorities said his arrest was unrelated to that case. The grand jury hopes to get the original videotape shot by Crooks, Chief Deputy District Attorney Curt Livesay told a Los Angeles radio talk show Wednesday. Crooks and Livesay had a terse exchange on the show, with Crooks saying he feared police were "coming after me because I shot the video." (Full story) The video shows a handcuffed Donovan Jackson, 16, being slammed onto a patrol car, then hit in the face by an Inglewood police officer. The tape, shot by Crooks from a hotel across the street from the incident, received widespread attention after airing on local and national television. Attorneys for Jackson and his father filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday alleging their civil rights were violated. |
|
Family attorneys say Inglewood police officers and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies beat Jackson and his father, Coby Chavis, before the videotape began.
"What you saw was the lesser of two beatings," said Joe Hopkins, Jackson's attorney. The lawsuit names as defendants the city of Inglewood, Los Angeles County, four Inglewood police officers and three sheriff's deputies as well as unnamed officers from both departments who were at the scene. The suit does not ask for specific damages, but Chavis' attorney John Sweeney said, "We believe this is a seven-figure case." Law enforcement officials insist the altercation was started by Jackson, who they say sought to interfere with a deputy trying to cite his father for having expired license plates and driving with a suspended license. "The juvenile attacked our deputy, which started the scuffle in the first place," said Lt. Carl Deeley, a sheriff's department spokesman. "The young man lunged at the deputy, who then had to grab him, and they struggled with each other." Jackson suffers from a disability that Sweeney termed "auditory processing delays," making it difficult for him to follow oral instructions. Jeremy Morse, an Inglewood police officer of three years who is seen striking the teen on the videotape, has been suspended. No action has been taken against the other three Inglewood officers or the two sheriff's deputies who were at the scene. In Washington, Attorney General John Ashcroft released a statement Wednesday saying the Inglewood incident "troubles me greatly." He has directed the FBI to begin an investigation, and a team from the Justice Department's community relations service was sent to the Los Angeles suburb. Second beating allegation investigated The Inglewood Police Department acknowledged Wednesday it is investigating a second complaint of a police beating. Neilson Williams, 32, alleges that Inglewood police beat him unconscious without provocation in a public park in June. "I was pretty much encountered by a fleet of Inglewood police officers who pretty much had no respect for me [or] anything," Williams told a news conference Wednesday. "I was trying to tell them, and they just basically beat me to a pulp and almost beat me to death. That's about as blunt as I can put it." A police report related to the incident lists Morse, the suspended officer, as a witness, but it is unclear from the document what role he might have had in Williams' allegation. Inglewood Police Sgt. Ron Reagan characterized the matter as "an active internal affairs investigation that is not yet disposed of" and said such probes can take up to two or three months. Reagan offered no further details. |
|
A police department statement from June 26 said officers answering a call of a disturbance by a group at a park suspected to be the scene of gang activity encountered Williams, who it said "became belligerent and uncooperative."
Officers believed Williams was under the influence "of some type of drug and/or alcohol," the statement said. In attempting to arrest the 6-foot-4, 300-pound Williams, the statement said, "Officers utilized a carotid restraint hold ... in order to overcome his resistance." Police said that when Williams stopped fighting they stopped using the hold. At that time they noticed that "Williams was breathing but not conscious. The police officers immediately summoned paramedics and monitored his breathing. Within minutes, suspect Williams was transported to nearby Centinela Hospital," the statement said. |
|
The suit does not ask for specific damages, but Chavis' attorney John Sweeney said, "We believe this is a seven-figure case." View Quote [puke][puke][puke][puke][puke][puke][puke] |
|
Quoted: The suit does not ask for specific damages, but Chavis' attorney John Sweeney said, "We believe this is a seven-figure case." View Quote [puke][puke][puke][puke][puke][puke][puke] View Quote I feel your pain. |
|
Hell, I'd be happy with a new jeep. Slamming someone on the hood of a car and cuffing them once (open hand) on the face shouldn't require a payout of "retirement money." This entire incident has been blown way out of proportion. I guess I expected this coming.
|
|
Crooks was a real nut case in the 20-30 radio interview he did yesterday with KFI LA radio yesterday. Had two outstanding warrants for his arrest - a DWI and some petty theft thing if I recall.
|
|
Quoted: Had two outstanding warrants for his arrest - a DWI and some petty theft thing if I recall. View Quote What a coincidence that they just got that figured out and sent someone to see him. [rolleyes] That guy is fuct. His time in jail will be unfun. |
|
Not that this means anything, but I saw an interview with Crooks, and right away it dawned on me that this dude had snakes in the head.
|
|
Quoted: Quoted: Had two outstanding warrants for his arrest - a DWI and some petty theft thing if I recall. View Quote What a coincidence that they just got that figured out and sent someone to see him. [rolleyes] View Quote Since I've never been to L.A., is Inglewood a good part of town? This Crooks guy apparently stayed in a hotel there (I know, stating the obvious), I wonder what his reason for doing so was? From what I understand the cop claims the 16-year old grabbed his nuts, and he punched him so he would let go. When will SecondChance make grab-proof cups for Law Enforcement? |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Had two outstanding warrants for his arrest - a DWI and some petty theft thing if I recall. View Quote What a coincidence that they just got that figured out and sent someone to see him. [rolleyes] View Quote Since I've never been to L.A., is Inglewood a good part of town? This Crooks guy apparently stayed in a hotel there (I know, stating the obvious), I wonder what his reason for doing so was? From what I understand the cop claims the 16-year old grabbed his nuts, and he punched him so he would let go. When will SecondChance make grab-proof cups for Law Enforcement? View Quote Remember the 92 LA riots, starting at Florence and Normandy? This place is a few miles from it. Not the best place to raise a family, or rent a hotel room. But good for scoring some really good drugs. |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Had two outstanding warrants for his arrest - a DWI and some petty theft thing if I recall. View Quote What a coincidence that they just got that figured out and sent someone to see him. [rolleyes] View Quote Since I've never been to L.A., is Inglewood a good part of town? This Crooks guy apparently stayed in a hotel there (I know, stating the obvious), I wonder what his reason for doing so was? From what I understand the cop claims the 16-year old grabbed his nuts, and he punched him so he would let go. When will SecondChance make grab-proof cups for Law Enforcement? View Quote Remember the 92 LA riots, starting at Florence and Normandy? This place is a few miles from it. Not the best place to raise a family, or rent a hotel room. But good for scoring some really good drugs. View Quote So will they burn this area down again ? |
|
Quoted: Not the best place to raise a family, or rent a hotel room. But good for scoring some really good drugs. View Quote |
|
Quoted: What a coincidence that they just got that figured out and sent someone to see him. [rolleyes] That guy is fuct. His time in jail will be unfun. View Quote Just as I predicted: the local NBC affiliate just had a story on the news that Crook has been taken from jail to the hospital, and claims he was beaten in jail by cops. [Gomer Pyle voice]Surprise, surprise, surprise!![/Gomer Pyle voice] How does the reason he was in that hotel change what is on the videotape that he shot? By the way, initial stories said that he had moved out of one apartment/house and was waiting for repairs to finish so he could move into another. Some folks can't afford three weeks at the Hilton while their apartment is being painted. I know I couldn't. I was once pulled out of my car by three douchebag Philadelphia Highway cops, smacked around a little, illegally searched and threatened with a beating just for being in the "wrong" neighborhood. What does that make me? |
|
Quoted: Just as I predicted: the local NBC affiliate just had a story on the news that Crook has been taken from jail to the hospital, and claims he was beaten in jail by cops. View Quote Shocking!!! (sarcasm) I wonder if the SOB got this one on tape? Keving67 |
|
Did anyone hear him crying like a bitch in the SUV after he got arrested? It was hilarious.
BTW it was a DUI with injuries. Not a minor crime in my eyes. And he's a thief. IngleHOOD is quite possibly the worst ghetto in SoCal. Its so nice that it is used as the approach to LAX. There are still plenty of empty lots from businesses destroyed in the 92 riots. And if it wasn't for the revenue the Forum (where the Lakers and Kings used to play) and Hollywood Park horse racing track (at least 15 miles from the city of Hollywood) that town would be in even worse shape. Please keep in mind how bad that sewer is when you see the video. |
|
Quoted: I was once pulled out of my car by three douchebag Philadelphia Highway cops, smacked around a little, illegally searched and threatened with a beating just for being in the "wrong" neighborhood. What does that make me? View Quote Educated? |
|
Quoted: Quoted: I was once pulled out of my car by three douchebag Philadelphia Highway cops, smacked around a little, illegally searched and threatened with a beating just for being in the "wrong" neighborhood. What does that make me? View Quote Educated? View Quote I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that you weren't just being a snide little bitch. I guess I did learn something that day: 1. Get names and badge numbers. 2. Some cops will do whatever they think they can get away with. |
|
The cop that punched the handcuffed guy in the face should lose his job and any retirement benefits.
The suspect was grabbing his nuts - bullshit. |
|
Quoted: The cop that punched the handcuffed guy in the face should lose his job and any retirement benefits. The suspect was grabbing his nuts - bullshit. View Quote The officer had put the "nut grabbing incident" in his arrest statement before he was even aware that a video had been done. |
|
[url]http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/3544427p-4571945c.html[/url]
|
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Had two outstanding warrants for his arrest - a DWI and some petty theft thing if I recall. View Quote What a coincidence that they just got that figured out and sent someone to see him. [rolleyes] View Quote Since I've never been to L.A., is Inglewood a good part of town? This Crooks guy apparently stayed in a hotel there (I know, stating the obvious), I wonder what his reason for doing so was? From what I understand the cop claims the 16-year old grabbed his nuts, and he punched him so he would let go. When will SecondChance make grab-proof cups for Law Enforcement? View Quote Hmmmm...what is Inglewood like? Good question. Does the term Indian Country help? That is down near Rep. Maxin Waters distrit (sic) and its in the heart of some of the toughest hoods in America. I know...I grew up just over the 'border' of Manchester blvd. in Westchester. We left about forty years ago for the burbs. Pops could see the handwriting on the wall. Our neighborhood was tough...theirs was primevil. South Philly, Southeast DC, Detroit, South side Chicago have nothing on Ingelwood. About the only way I would take my butt into that hood would be in a Bradley...or maybe an M1A2. I damn sure wouldn't work there if I was a copper. Anybody remember the pics of the Korean shopkeepers on their store roofs and the mob on the street playing Gunfight at the OK Corral during the '92 riots? Both sides blasting away at each other. Damndest thing I ever saw. Simply amazing. [uzi] Going downtown Inglewood would be harder than taking Hue. Homey don't go there... |
|
Quoted: To all of the police use of force experts on this site: My analysis, as a police internal affairs investigator, is this - The truck portion of the incident earns the officer a discharge. Prosecution at misdemeanor level should be the maximum. The filing of such a charge is very likely due to the public outcry (read potential of a black uprising). I file such cases with the DA'S office and have never seen such a swift use of the Grand Jury in LA County. My initial few viewings of the tape made me believe that the force was just payback for the cuts the officer received. I looked closer and noticed the crotch issue before the media started talking about it. I've had similar taped incidents that I showed to the DA's office and the conclusion is always that if there is resistance, the officer has the right to defend himself, within reason. A punch (called use of personal weapons by PDs) is a relatively low level of force. The public doesn't like the appearance of it when they see it. Next, and you heard it here first, the apparent choking was actually a "C-clamp" which is designed to prevent the suspect from swallowing dope. The kid had just been eating potato chips which may have looked like rocks of cocaine coming out of his mouth immediately after the punch. Take note of the two-striper (probably a training officer). He clearly is intent on what Officer Morse is saying immediately after the punch and does an obvious mouth sweep of the suspect for dope. Flame away at my analysis if you choose, but don't think I'm soft on the issue. It's my job to burn dirty cops, and I have two brutality cases pending with the LA Co. DA's office right now. One that makes this little slapping incident seem rather mild. View Quote Doesn't matter and you know it. The video screams out to the public. No matter if the perp was about to shank the cop just an instant before the camera began rolling. In our culture, what is seen is reality. Then you throw in the Jonnie Cockroaches and what a nice mix you have out there. In my mind...once the rat bastard is cuffed...he don't get the shit beat out of him. Far too much of that in SoCal over the years anyway, and now every TV helo is watching a perp bust...hoping to get the big scoop. I understand the f#$king jungle that you guys operate in but that doesn't make kicking the crap out of the scumbag right. Had he not been restrained...different story. Once the cuffs are on...naughty...naughty. [soapbox] |
|
A little birdie told me based on the totality of the situation, there will be no charges filed against anybody but the 16 year old developmentally dysfunctional kid.
Now we will see how good my little birdie's Intel is,,,, Jay [img]http://www.commspeed.net/jmurray/images/iroc-cop.gif[/img] |
|
Quoted: A little birdie told me based on the totality of the situation, there will be no charges filed against anybody but the 16 year old developmentally dysfunctional kid. View Quote Sing it with me now! "Burn baby, burn burn! Ghetto inferno!" Or, as Brother James, the Godfather of Soul, would say: "It's time for the Big Payback!" |
|
Quoted: Quoted: A little birdie told me based on the totality of the situation, there will be no charges filed against anybody but the 16 year old developmentally dysfunctional kid. View Quote Sing it with me now! "Burn baby, burn burn! Ghetto inferno!" Or, as Brother James, the Godfather of Soul, would say: "It's time for the Big Payback!" View Quote HaHa ! Im dancing to your groove because the dumbass's will burn down there own business's and only hurt and bring shame on themselves, AGAIN !!! |
|
Quoted: Quoted: The cop that punched the handcuffed guy in the face should lose his job and any retirement benefits. The suspect was grabbing his nuts - bullshit. View Quote The officer had put the "nut grabbing incident" in his arrest statement before he was even aware that a video had been done. View Quote So what ? That proves nothing. The cop still has to make up an excuse becuase he knows that other people saw it. |
|
The stupid ass media made it sound like the screaming punk from the Explorer meant he was being tortured or something. This ain't South Africa. Take away a suspect and he disappears.
I think these punks get the cops to thrash them so they can get instant millions. Of course someone always has a video of the situation. Everyone wants to be "Like Rodney", King that is. I think he's their role model. |
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.