Little-known fact. LAPD experimented with nets, sometime prior to the RK case. ACLU sued to prevent use, on basis that use of nets was demeaning or otherwise a violation of human rights.
Personally, I think a net would be a whole lot less painful and damaging than even a Taser, much less clubs or bullets. But I suspect the problem is the "treating like an animal" image, particularly when applied to protected minority groups.
So we deny the cops truly non-violent and low-harm methods and force them to use methods of controlling violent people that are inherently more dangerous.
King was on all kinds of drugs, had dropped his pants and told everyone to kiss his ass and so forth.
Lots happened before he got hurt.
Had the Highway patrol had just shot him before they LAPD took over they way they were going to do we would have been spared a lot of riots and racial BS in this country for 20 years.