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Busted on Video Again: LAPD Beats Unarmed Suspect in Compton (UPDATED)
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11697 Reads
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UPDATED BELOW
This is a grim bit of deja vu: LAPD officers chased down a fleeing suspect on foot after a car chase in Compton this morning, subdued him and then apparently kicked him and beat him with a large metal flashlight..
It was all caught on video (RealPlayer at LATimes.com - username: lavoice, password: lavoice), which shows an as-yet unidentified officer getting all Lawrence Powell on the suspect, whaling away on him with at least 11 roundhouse blows. UPDATE - officer identified.
The suspect, one Stanley Miller, was booked into Parker Center Jail and treated for "minor injuries" according to LAPD flacks quoted by the Times.
This can now go one of two ways:
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a) Chief Bratton rides Internal Affairs hard, pushing for a thorough investigation and - unless anyone can adequately explain why an unarmed man on the ground should be beaten with what looks like a six-D-cell aluminum flashlight - terminates and arrests the cop responsible.
or
b) He issues the sort of "this fell within department policies and procedures" denial that ultimately led to rioting, bloodshed, fire and death 12 years ago, the cop is transferred to another division and Stephen Yagman does his customary pit-bull attack on the department and savages it in civil court until you and I cough up the tax dollars to cover - at best, some hefty legal bills, and at worst, a multi-million-dollar settlement on Miller's behalf.
Nobody's forecasting riots yet. The cops have not been quoted on the race of either Miller or the officer who appeared to have beaten him, and the investigation may turn up circumstances that somehow negate any charges of abuse.
UPDATE: Miller, 36, is black, and the three most aggressive officers shown in the video, white, LAPD South Bureau Deputy Chief Earl Paysinger tells the Times. LAPD is remaining mum on the officers' identities, citing personnel and penal code considerations.
But tThis one doesn't look too good - for anyone concerned.
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| Posted by: mack_reed on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 09:28 PM
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