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Well, my thoughts on this:

The kid was retarded, and only 16. It seems to me from the video that once he was handcuffed, he was well under control. I didn't see anything in the footage that suggested that after the handcuffing, there was any need to bash the kids brains into the hood of the car, and then punch him in the head a second time. Maybe he was putting up a good struggle, but I didn't see anything.

I'm sorry, but you don't go punching a retarded sixteen year old in the head after you've handcuffed him, unless he's putting up some sort of ungodly, PCP-fueled fight.

What I find dismaying is the attitude shared by some FReepers that we should treat LEO's as Gods That Walk Among Us. I am sad to report that unfortunately, for every good cop out there protecting us and our rights, there is at least one corrupt bully with a gun who loves to throw his weight around. Corruption is sadly rampant in many parts of our law enforcement community. But, I am very resentful of the implication you seem to be making, that even daring to question the propriety of the actions that these cops made somehow makes us "less-good" Conservatives, or that we favor anarchy or the liberals, because that's just not true.

I saw let the facts speak for themselves. If you can prove that the kid was putting up a huge struggle after being handcuffed, to the point where you had to bash him in a few times, then so be it. Also, I refuse to classify this thing as a "racial incident". Isn't it true that at least two of the cops were hispanic, and the other was black?

The question comes down to this: Who watches the watchmen? Also, I believe we have a thing called "due process". Just because the guy is retarded and black doesn't mean he should immediately be seen as innocent, but the same goes for the cops; just because they are cops doesn't mean their actions are immediately beyond reproach.

I just feel that as good American citizens, its up to us to watch the watchmen. I've had too many personal experiences with the very corrupt police we have in Taxachusetts to implicitly trust the police without having all the facts readily available. A healthy distrust of Government is what makes this country great. And I'm sorry, but I feel very strongly about the issue of power abuse. If a cop is caught and proven to be acting like a common thug, then I think we should do all we can to disgrace this cop for violating the honor of his badge.

One of the cops was black. I couldn't tell about the others- if they were hispanic, they were very fair skinned.

The only thing I can say in defense of the others is that it appeared to me as if they had their head turned when he slammed the kid into the car hood.

Their intervention when he then sucker punched the kid was tepid at best though. They obviously didn't want him to beat the kid, but they sure weren't about to do anything about the fact that he just did.

Just because the guy is retarded and black doesn't mean he should immediately be seen as innocent, but the same goes for the cops...

I'm not so sure he was truly retarded. The media words were "emotionally retarded" which sounds like PC white wash for bad actor. But then again I could be wrong. Either way I see no reason to expect the police to give IQ tests to those they are attacked by.

just because they are cops doesn't mean their actions are immediately beyond reproach.

That's true. But the consverse is also true, just because they are cops doesn't mean they're white racists trying to find innocent blacks to beat up. (I'm not saying you've said this but I can assure you there are those who have)

Bottom line-Perhaps there will be more facts that will come out and they may help either side. But IMO from what it looks like, this is a cop that got attacked and hit in the head so hard that it cut it open. He got p.o. ed, and took it out on the guy that did it to him, which most people would. It was wrong, yes, but in the grand schene of things, not very. The punishement should fit the crime--mild. Perhaps a coupole weeks without pay and the warning that if it happens again he'll lose his job.

I tend to not trust LEOs, however, if the kid had gone rigid, was bracing himself against the car, kicking at the cops, or in any way physically resisting his arrest/detention, as a general rule cops can use large amounts of physical force on a suspect to secure him in the squad car or jail. You can watch cops slamming, punching and macing suspects on videotape virtually every week on COPS, and none of those guys lose their badges.

As to the issue of retardation, how are cops supposed to know that? If it turns out that his retardation inhibited his response to the cops, then that actually works in the cops defense's favor.

An image can be worth a thousand words, misconceptions or lies. We do not see the entire event, we do not know what that kid did before the tape rolled, and because of that I reserve judgement.

The cop has been placed on leave and I assume Internal Affairs will get first crack. If no criminal intent is found then the kid and his family have resource in civil court.

Altogether too much attention is being paid to this nonevent, and not nearly enough to the terrorist attack at LAX on 7/4.