Posted on 08/31/2012 8:09:47 AM PDT by Morgana
At least five Los Angeles police officers are under investigation in the death of a woman who stopped breathing during a struggle that included an officer stomping on her genital area and the use of additional force by others to take her into custody, police officials confirmed Thursday.
The altercation in front of her South Los Angeles apartment was captured by a patrol car's video camera.
When asked by The Times about the incident, LAPD Cmdr. Bob Green confirmed that one officer, while trying to get Alesia Thomas into the back of a patrol car, threatened to kick Thomas in the genitals if she did not comply, and then followed through on her threat.
After officers forced Thomas into the back seat of the police car, she is seen on the video breathing shallowly; she eventually stopped breathing.
"I take all in-custody death investigations very seriously," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said in a statement late Thursday. "I am confident we will get to the truth no matter where that leads us."
The incident came to light a day after Beck announced he was transferring a captain from his command after a separate videotaped incident in which officers were shown slamming a handcuffed woman to the ground. Beck said that video raised concerns and that the department was investigating the officers.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I am just thrilled she realized her problem and tried to protect her children. What the f*** is wrong with the LAPD?
Yesterday, 2 LAPD officers slammed a handcuffed chick on the street. Then they gave each other a pound. Not a good week for the LAPD.
Meet the new LAPD.....same as the old LAPD.
Someone needs to check the editing of this article - there is a huge difference between kicking and stomping. stomping would imply that the woman was on the ground and he stomped her “genitalia area” (whatever that is suppose to mean), or he kicked her while trying to force her into the squad car.
“A neighbor who witnessed part of the incident told The Times he did not see officers do anything wrong and described Thomas as the aggressor.”
Overweight, on drugs, resisting, she most likely had a heart attack as a result of the struggle. Didn’t sound like they did too much wrong, other than treatening to kick her in the kitty.
They need fodder for the Machine that produces all their wonderful salaries, benefits, and great retirements...
“Can’t we all just get along?”
Poor old Rodney is dead.
Give these clowns batons and send them into East LA.
Crack kills.
Nothing is wrong with the LAPD. They are simply the leading edge of the future of policing in America and present reality in many communities, mostly large cities but some smaller places, too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.