Jury Deadlocks On One Count In Violent Videotaped Arrest Trial LAPD Placed On Tactical Alert

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2365393/detail.html ^ | 7/29/03 | NBC

[Die_Hard Conservative Lady]

UPDATED: 2:41 p.m. PDT July 29, 2003

LOS ANGELES -- A judge declared a hung jury Tuesday in the case against a former Inglewood police officer accused of assaulting a handcuffed teenager during a videotaped arrest, but jurors found his partner innocent of falsifying a police report.

Jeremy Morse, 25, the former officer accused of assault, could have received as much as three years in prison if convicted. His partner, Bijan Darvish, 26, would have faced the same penalty.

The announcement came on the fourth day of deliberations. The verdict was read Tuesday afternoon in court before Superior Court Judge William Hollingsworth, Jr.

Darvish (pictured, left) and his attorney banged their fists on the counsel table and breathed "Yes" as the verdicts were read.

Someone in the courtroom yelled, "No justice here!" and was silenced by Hollingsworth.

People standing outside the courthouse held signs saying "Peace After the Verdict," hoping to pevent riots like the ones that devastated the city after four white police officers were acquitted of state charges in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King in 1992.

Morse was white and the teen, Donovan Jackson, is black.

The Los Angeles Police Department has been placed on a citywide tactical alert. The designation allows for increased deployment of officers if needed in the wake of the reading of the verdict in the Inglewood police beating case.

Deliberations started Thursday on whether fired officer Jeremy Morse, 25, committed assault under color of authority when he slammed Donovan Jackson onto a police car during a July 6, 2002, arrest.

The jury asked for clarification of certain instructions Monday, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Morse's former partner, Officer Bijan Darvish, 26, is charged with filing a false police report about the incident.

Each could face up to three years in prison if convicted.

Jackson, then 16, was arrested for resisting arrest but never charged with a crime.

Prosecutors acknowledge that Jackson struggled with officers at the gas station where his father had been questioned about expired license plate tags.

But they contend he was limp or unconscious and no threat when Morse hauled him up by his collar and belt and slammed him onto the trunk of the car.

Morse then punched Jackson in the head but said it was a reaction to the youth grabbing his groin.

The incidents were videotaped by a bystander.

In closing arguments, the prosecutors called Morse an "angry, out-of-control" cop who was administering street justice to a suspect who had struggled with him.

The defense contended the police car trunk was flexible and Jackson wasn't seriously hurt. Lawyers argued Morse could be construed as having used reasonable force to subdue a suspect who was a potential threat.

Race was not mentioned in the trial, although Morse is white and Jackson is black. However, the videotape drew protests and comparisons to the 1991 videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King by four white Los Angeles police officers. Rioting broke out when the four were acquitted of state charges.

The four days of violence killed 55 people, injured more than 2,000 and caused about $1 billion in damage. Two of the officers were later sent to prison on federal civil rights charges.

"What we don't want to see is a repeat of what we saw in the Rodney King trial -- a weak prosecution, weak statements," Earl Ofari Hutchison, a community activist, told NBC4.

[onyx]

The new chief just might be tested. The media is doing it's best to stir the pot.

[lelio]

What does a bullet do to a plasma screen?

[mewzilla]

Come on, I've seen more violence at a bingo hall than on this video.

Nevertheless, the perp should have been charged with another count, not assaulted.

[Weimdog]

I hope you're right but the Palestinian effect comes into play here.

The Palestinians are rewarded for terrorism with aide, prison releases, and the promise of their own state.

The Rodney King rioters werre rewarded with re-development money and new shopping centers.

Bad behavior rewarded.

Hell, they might get a football stadium this time.

[joey'smom]

I just heard the Koreans have hired the old geezer who mowed down the farmer's market in Santa Monica.

[L,TOWM]

Some of the best gallows humor I've seen in a long time.

[gsrinok]

Whats the over / under on KWL's this evening? (KWL = Killed While Looting)

I'd say dead even right now. It seems fairly calm at the moment, but I see that some of the local "Sharptons" are out agitating. If the weather stays hot and the crowds get good and liquored up, there might be some action after dark. I hope the LAPD riot squads are out there in full gear and ready to deal with the miscreants.

[Husker24]

California would prosecute the Koreans to no end if they dared defend their property with guns. I think in all states except Texas you dont have the right to defend property with lethal force.

[L,TOWM]

As long as the lid stays on until I get home, and get the safe open...

[gsrinok]

I think in all states except Texas you dont have the right to defend property with lethal force.

To the contrary, my friend, here in Oklahoma, you have the legal right to defend life and property with lethal force. Anyone who tries to come onto my property with bad intentions will find that out in a hurry.

[Amerigomag]

Bad behavior rewarded.

Rewards require high profile negotiations.

Nothing would warm my heart more than to have the two chief "racists" negotiators, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, on the front lines when the shooting starts.

[jwalsh07]

"Don't need no stinkin' VCR -- we needs DVD!!"

We don't need this crap here. This site is dedicated to individual liberty and personal responsibility not the association of Grand Kleagles.

[Chad Fairbanks]

YEah, man. What you said. That phrase you quoted had "KKK" written all over it... /sarcasm

[gsrinok]

You hardly have to be racist to point out that the LA rioters in '92 were black or that they were obviously using the occasion to loot and plunder with impunity.

[lawdude]

Fox said he had gotten a severe beating. It appeared that he got one punch to the face after (supposedly) grabbing the officers 'nads.

Did I miss something?

[jwalsh07]

Want to know what to do with your /sarcasm?

[gsrinok]

No, that's about it. One little punch led to the cost of a trial, two officers being fired, and possible riots.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I already know what I SHOULD do with it, but you'd probably enjoy it too much... ;0)

[gsrinok]

It's also not racist to point out that, only a few weeks ago, several hundred (at least) blacks in Benton Harbor, Michigan, chose to riot after some idiot on a motorcycle decided to run from the police and ended up getting killed when he ran into a wall.