Hundreds rally for Inglewood officer's arrest

Associated Press ^ | July 13, 2002 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Hundreds rally for Inglewood officer's arrest

Two previous complaints to be reopened against lawman in beating

07/13/2002

Associated Press

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hundreds of protesters demanded Friday that criminal charges be filed against a white policeman who slammed a handcuffed black teenager against a patrol car and punched him.

During the rally, the protesters chanted "No justice, no peace." One carried a pink sign reading "To Protect & Serve, NOT Lie & Cover-Up."

Later, Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn disclosed that investigations will be reopened into two previous complaints filed against Officer Jeremy Morse. The mayor declined to provide details on the cases.

Also Friday, a resident filed a civil rights lawsuit against Officer Morse and other law enforcement officers that alleged that Officer Morse assaulted her when officers stormed into her home Oct. 20.

Officer Morse's attorney, John Barnett, did not return telephone calls seeking comment. Addressing the July 6 arrest of the teenager, Mr. Barnett has said that officer was assaulted first and his response was justified.

The arrest was captured on videotape by a bystander. Officer Morse is on paid leave during the investigation.

Donovan Jackson, 16, was booked for investigation of assault on an officer and released to his parents. His father, Coby Chavis, 41, was cited for driving with a suspended license and having expired license plates.

Activists at the rally said they believed the incident was being properly investigated and urged the community to remain calm until those probes were completed.

"While people are properly outraged in the community as well they should be it has not gotten out of control as of yet," said John Mack, executive director of the Los Angeles Urban League.

Meanwhile, the bystander who taped the arrest, Mitchell Crooks, was taken Friday to Placer County in Northern California to begin serving a seven-month sentence for driving under the influence, petty theft and hit-and-run, said sheriff's Capt. Rick Armstrong.

Mr. Crooks was arrested Thursday in Hollywood on warrants that had been issued in 1999 after he failed to surrender after he was convicted.

Soon after his arrest Thursday, Mr. Crooks, 27, was taken before a grand jury to authenticate the videotape he had shot. Afterward, his attorneys allege that he was roughed up by investigators from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office who were angered that he hadn't appeared earlier.

District attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison denied that investigators harmed Mr. Crooks.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/nation/stories/071302dnnatvideo.d5b64.html

[dennisw]

The mob is pissed. You would think this officer killed someone. Or put someone in the hospital.

The liberal black commentators on TV have been ranting and raving in LOUD voices like cheap Jesse Jacksons. It's performance time. It's showtime.

[B4Ranch]

The results of an edited tape are wonderful. They will produce the desired effects just about everytime.

[B4Ranch]

A Black Mayor and Black Police Chief should be able to determine what is right for the community with the assistance of the DA. Jackson and Sharpton are not there to maintain civil rights, they are there to promote civil unrest.

The police officer will be taken care of by the court system, the way it should be.

[neutrino]

Were I cop ... which, thank the Lord, I'm not...I would patrol the donut shops and the coffee shops. And I'd never see a crime or make an arrest.

Of course, no one else would pursue that solution....

[Woodkirk]

This is the same mob that celebrated the OJ decision.

The officer's lawyer said that the boy was grabbing the officer's family jewels. If so then there was still a lot of fight in this kid and even though handcuffed he was still not giving up.

When you look at the tape the kid is looking backwards just before punched as if to see what he is reaching for. Remember his feet were not bound, so what was he doing with them. And the officer did not punch the kid initially but only did so when the kid was turning his head to see what he was grabbing for.

At first glance the tape indicts the officer but you have to look carefully to see what is not initially apparent.

[eno_]

Sometimes what you see is what you get.

What do you think is more likely: a) That the only time this cop ever got out of line he was videotaped? b) Or, that he is a goon who has done similar thing many times?

If you picked a), I hope I get a chance to sell you something someday.

[knuthom]

The officer's lawyer said that the boy was grabbing the officer's family jewels.

I remember a thread from the first day this was in the news. A freeper, whose name I do not recall, commented that the officer appeared to be grimacing as if in pain. Freepers are very observant. They don't miss much.

[MeekOneGOP]

The mob is pissed. You would think this officer killed someone. Or put someone in the hospital.

The liberal black commentators on TV have been ranting and raving in LOUD voices like cheap Jesse Jacksons. It's performance time. It's showtime.

Did you say showtime? Ok.............

CLICK HERE, then scroll down about half
And Click on Play Video
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/07/09/police.beating/

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A teen-ager whose beating by Inglewood police was videotaped said he had done nothing to provoke the attack. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez reports (July 9)

[JohnD9207]

Did you SEE the look of Pain on the officers face after he punched the perp in the face. I would suggest to you that I would rather be punched in the face anytime over getting my NUTS mashed.

This officer showed restraint by only hitting him once to get him to let go of his jewels. I would have stomped him into a mud hole. GIVE it a rest folks. I tend to believe the officer rather than that poor innocent perp. GEEZ!!!

[Woodkirk]

Nice try -- but no sale.

[Diamond]

The mob is pissed. You would think this officer killed someone. Or put someone in the hospital.

I have no truck with the race hustler Jesse Jackson mob, but how would you feel if they had done this to you?

I have respect for legitimate authority, but not for criminal assault covered by uniforms and lies.

Cordially,

[Blue Screen of Death]

The officer's lawyer said that the boy was grabbing the officer's family jewels.

This will lead to demands for hiring more black and more female offiers.

[Texbob]

I will bet you were rooting for the bad cops at Ruby Ridge, who killed a teenage boy trying to protect his dog and shot his mother while she was holding a baby, and the good cops at Waco who killed a bunch of childeren to prove they were macho.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Here we go again. 1992 all over again. Maxine gets to start new riots, grap tv time and vicitimize the blacks all over again.

[Free the USA]

Index Bump

[stumpy]

I grew up in Inglewood, Ca.. Along with others. Lefebre of the Oakland baseball team grew up there as did Vicky Lawrence. Inglewood was an "all white" city until 1963 when then assemblyman Jesse Unhruh began "block busting".

I went overseas in 1966, and had never in my life owned a key to the house I grew up in, as it had never been "locked". In 1968 I came home from Viet Nam and was given a key to the door. During the time I was gone, the little old lady across the street from our house had been savagely pistol whipped, and the neighbor two doors down had been stabbed while walking home with groceries.

I try to stay out of Inglewood now, because I can't legally carry.

[dennisw]

Your post makes me think of the song Rush Limbaugh plays:
"My City Was Gone" by the Pretenders.

Last time I visited my old neighborhood I was dissapointed too.