POLICE BRUTALITY WATCH: POLICE KICK MAN ON GROUND IN THE HEAD
A high-speed police chase through suburban Los Angeles County on Wednesday ended with a police officer kicking a suspect in the head or neck after the man gave up and laid down.
Video from TV news helicopters showed the driver speed the wrong way down a street in an eastern area of the county. He then crashed into an oncoming vehicle, got out of the car and ran into a residential back yard. Surrounded by high garden walls and apparently realizing he had nowhere to go, the suspect got face down on the grass with his arms outstretched.
Moments later, an El Monte Police Department officer ran up to the suspect and gave him one sharp kick to the head or neck. The scene was broadcast by KNBC-TV and KTTV. A second officer arrived soon after and used what appeared to be his baton or a flashlight to deliver several blows to the suspect’s side.
After the suspect was handcuffed, the officer who kicked him high-fived a colleague who was tending to a police dog.
El Monte police Chief Tom Armstrong said he had not yet seen the video and could not comment.
“Before coming to any conclusion, I want to look at all the facts,” Armstrong said. “I don’t know what was in the mind of the officer.”
Police identified the driver as Richard Rodriguez, 23, of El Monte. He was on parole and is a member of an El Monte street gang, Lt. Chuck Carlson said. He was booked for parole violation and for investigation of felony evading and obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duties. He was being held in the El Monte jail before being transferred to a county jail.
The foot pursuit came at the culmination of a high-speed car chase that lasted more than 30 minutes and saw the suspect lead a chaotic drive through El Monte, Whittier and other parts of eastern Los Angeles County.
On several occasions, the car sped through intersections without stopping and at one point drove along a short stretch of sidewalk when it was hemmed in at a junction.
Watch the Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tyellNfdPE
Video from TV news helicopters showed the driver speed the wrong way down a street in an eastern area of the county. He then crashed into an oncoming vehicle, got out of the car and ran into a residential back yard. Surrounded by high garden walls and apparently realizing he had nowhere to go, the suspect got face down on the grass with his arms outstretched.
Moments later, an El Monte Police Department officer ran up to the suspect and gave him one sharp kick to the head or neck. The scene was broadcast by KNBC-TV and KTTV. A second officer arrived soon after and used what appeared to be his baton or a flashlight to deliver several blows to the suspect’s side.
After the suspect was handcuffed, the officer who kicked him high-fived a colleague who was tending to a police dog.
El Monte police Chief Tom Armstrong said he had not yet seen the video and could not comment.
“Before coming to any conclusion, I want to look at all the facts,” Armstrong said. “I don’t know what was in the mind of the officer.”
Police identified the driver as Richard Rodriguez, 23, of El Monte. He was on parole and is a member of an El Monte street gang, Lt. Chuck Carlson said. He was booked for parole violation and for investigation of felony evading and obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duties. He was being held in the El Monte jail before being transferred to a county jail.
The foot pursuit came at the culmination of a high-speed car chase that lasted more than 30 minutes and saw the suspect lead a chaotic drive through El Monte, Whittier and other parts of eastern Los Angeles County.
On several occasions, the car sped through intersections without stopping and at one point drove along a short stretch of sidewalk when it was hemmed in at a junction.
Watch the Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tyellNfdPE
