The above video shows a belligerent man being tased Sunday night by an LAPD officer, and consequently hitting his head on the curb with a sickening thud. (The videographer is a bit of an obnoxious little twerp, but that isn’t the issue.)
Monday, the LAPD put out the release below, thereby making a move to get out ahead of the story with facts and transparency.
I think it’s a very smart call on the part of the department and Chief Beck. (As my Deputy Sheriff cousin says about the press when he teaches criminal justice to young cops in South Dakota, “If you don’t feed them, they will hunt.” I always thought he had that about right.)
What do you think?
June 28, 2010
Use of Force Involving Hollywood Area Police Officers
Los Angeles: Hollywood Area Los Angeles Police Department officers respond to a report of an intoxicated man and a use of force occurs.
On June 27, 2010 around two in the morning, officers responding to an unrelated call of an intoxicated man at a bar in the Hollywood Highland complex came upon a man causing a disturbance, across the street on Hollywood Boulevard. The man, who appeared intoxicated, had confronted several black males calling them racially derogatory names. The LAPD officers intervened, and over the next several minutes tried to calm the man down and direct him to leave the area. The subject refused to leave and continued his aggressive and threatening behavior. The man reportedly threatened to “cut the throats” of the officers.
The man continued to clench his fists and direct his aggressive behavior toward the officers. Fearing the man was going to become violent, Officer Chris Craig, 7-years three months with the Department, displayed a TASER in an effort to get the subject to comply with their directions to calm down. The man refused to calm down and continued to maintain an aggressive combative stance with his fists clenched and directed his aggression toward the officers. Officer Craig fired the TASER at the subject striking him in the upper body, while Officer Peter Kim, 4-years and six months with the Department, moved toward him to strike the man on the mid back. The man fell to the ground and his head hit on the curb. The officers immediately radioed for Los Angeles Fire paramedics to respond to treat the man.He was taken to Cedar Sinai Hospital where he is listed in serious but stable condition.
The LAPD immediately launched an investigation which included the response of the Force Investigation Division. Over the next several months, Force Investigation Division will complete an exhaustive investigation. Part of that investigation will include a review of videos that may have been taken of the incident, interviews of involved parties and available scientific evidence. The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use of force policy which states that officer’ use of force actions must be reasonably objective.
If anyone has any information that would be helpful in this case please contact Force Investigation Division at (213) 486-5230. During non-business hours or weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800)-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most key pads) using a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “web tips” and follow the prompts.
I’m no expert, but it didn’t look that bad to me. Obviously it was a rough fall and I don’t know the rules about when you’re supposed to use billies and when tasers, but it looks like a reasonable fear that this guy wasn’t going quietly. That said, I suppose it’s good to investigate.
“The man, who appeared intoxicated, had confronted several black males calling them racially derogatory names.”
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If the drunk had confronted the wrong group of black males he would have suffered a real beating.
Have any witnesses given formal statements saying that he was insulting black people? Or did the cop make this up to justify his misconduct?
I’ve only looked at the video once and it didn’t look that bad to me. But I salute the PR move by the department in indicating that they would take the issue seriously.
Rocky, I don’t know anything past what I read on the wires and saw on the video. I would assume that someone has talked to the kid with the video.
Plus the guy was shouting really loudly in front of multiple witnesses. We just couldn’t easily hear it on the video. So either he said that stuff or he didn’t.
He either said that stuff or didn’t, why even give this troll that much? I just don’t get you Celeste, geez.
I don’t think it was that bad either, Celeste, just from viewing the video. But I believe in a system of checks and balances, and the word of a police officer alone should never be enough. That goes for any public employee. But this does look to be a non issue.
So I was the one who took the video,the cops,wouldnt give me a solid hes still alive thumbs up!Im glad i was mistaken for a kid..I feel young today!Anyways lets get back to the story..His head cracked wide open,he was in fact motionless for the duration of the time the officers stood around him(well over 15 minutes)laughing till they saw me filming them.when I went to get a closer look.I was almost in a bad situation,i felt scared,if i would have pursued the issue im sure I would have joined our tased friend.so as I watched a red substance roll down the gutter more than 40feet from where that man lay(motionless)i am sure he is not ok,walking or purhaps breathing
I was acrossed hollywood blvd when I filmed this and man oh man he didnt fall lightly.I used a cheap as heck cam to film this with a dinky ass microphone you know point and shoot and it managed to pick up the sound of his skull cracking,and as far as those black guys getting racists remarks(im native american by the way)they were trying to jump him prior to the cops arival the black guys ran off as they pulled up and so they decided that they would take down the easy prey,they were just chillin(the cops were)in there squad car on the same side i was on! for a long time(they were not there on a call!).I pointed to the black guys harrasing him and then they pulled a u turn and got out to have a little fun..ya well those officers need to be unemployed!tasers should be destroyed,some officers are killing small children as of late with these screwed up weapons as young as 3!!.and the night stick weilding officer!come on your partner is all ready tasing the guy his heart probably stoped,so lets just pull that puppy out and hit a totally helpless tased human get some practice in for when i really need it because im a most likley a virgin and hate the world.so this is what we pay taxes for?so the officers can try out new gadjets on a drunk guy they could have restrained or talked down,they were just itchin to fuck up somethin and enjoy it!bad cops! no badge!when will we see were all cut from the same cloth?maybe when someone slaps the shit outa ya with reality!have a nice day.and post as many rude comments as u can im board