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Posted on 07/11/2002 4:37:33 PM PDT by socal_parrot
By Dan Whitcomb
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The man who videotaped a police beating near Los Angeles that enraged black leaders and then dodged a grand jury inquiry into the matter was arrested on Thursday as he prepared to grant a television interview.
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Crooks' arrest was videotaped and broadcast on local KCAL-TV, showing undercover officers hustling him into a sports utility vehicle with tinted windows outside the studios of CNN as the 27-year-old man repeatedly screamed for help.
Crooks had failed to appear on Thursday morning at Los Angeles Superior Court, where the grand jury was meeting, after telling a local radio program that he feared for his life.
"All we're doing is arresting him on the basis of a warrant," Los Angeles County District Attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said. "If there had not been a warrant, we would have escorted him to the grand jury."
"He is a witness and we need him to authenticate the tape recording, otherwise its value in court would be greatly diminished," Gibbons said. Crooks shot his videotape from a motel room across the street from the scene of the incident in Inglewood, which abuts south-central Los Angeles.
Crooks called a KFI-AM talk radio show hosted by John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou on Wednesday to discuss the case and said he was afraid that officers would be "coming after" him for videotaping the beating of 16-year-old Donovan Jackson.
'I FEAR FOR MY LIFE'
"I fear for my life," Crooks said. "They're going to kick my ass in a cell and take turns on me, probably."
Deputy District Attorney Kurt Livesay, who was also a guest on the show, then told Crooks over the air that authorities did not want to hurt him, and asked that he give his address to investigators. Instead, Crooks hung up the phone.
The videotape, first broadcast on Sunday, shows Inglewood Police Officer Jeremy Morse picking up Jackson and slamming him face-first onto a patrol car. Several seconds later, Morse is seen slugging Jackson in the face with a closed fist.
The tape sparked cries of racism and comparisons to the incendiary 1991 beating of Rodney King, which was also videotaped. The acquittal of four Los Angeles officers in that case led to the worst urban riots in modern U.S. history.
Several local law enforcement agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were investigating the altercation between Jackson and Morse, a three-year veteran of the Inglewood Police Department. U.S. Attorney John Ashcroft ( news - web sites) sent his top civil rights deputy to Los Angeles on the case.
Jackson and his 41-year-old father, Coby Chavis, who was present during the incident, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Wednesday against the officers involved in their arrest, the city of Inglewood and the County of Los Angeles.
Black leaders, including congresswoman Maxine Waters, a Democrat who represents the area, and Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn have called for Morse to be immediately fired and brought up on state or federal charges.
ATTORNEY: OFFICER DESERVES DUE PROCESS
But Morse's lawyer told Reuters in an interview that the 24-year-old officer had been condemned by public officials before all of the facts were known or the probes even begun.
"I think it's quite unfortunate that people who have sworn to defend and uphold the Constitution would ignore the presumption of innocence and find individuals guilty before there's even been a trial," attorney John Barnett said. "I thought we stopped doing that a couple hundred years ago."
Barnett, who also represented one of the officers acquitted in King's beating, said public officials were offering inappropriate assurances that his client was guilty.
"This very same thing happened (in the King case)," he said. "That's why it was such a big surprise when they were acquitted with tragic, tragic consequences."
Barnett said that Morse lifted Jackson from the ground and heaved him onto the car because the teen had let his legs go limp in an effort to resist.
"After his hands were cuffed, Jackson was able to reach out and grab my client's testicles," he said. "And on that occasion the punch was seen in order to make that activity cease."
In Oklahoma, meanwhile, civil rights activists called for immediate disciplinary action against two white police officers who were videotaped beating a prone black suspect with batons.
The officers, Greg Driskill and E.J. Dyer, were to remain on regular duty pending the results of a probe. Oklahoma City police have asked the FBI ( news - web sites) to investigate.
Simple fact, therefore the tape was edited.
The only time you don't see edited tape is when something islive, then I would be careful about belieivng that also.
TV stations no longer if they ever did have a reason to broadcast the truth, they only broadcast what they perceive the truth to be.
TV News is a rating race and if it bleeds it is going to be out there and if it shows the power structure in a bad light it is going to lead faster.
Dispite OJ I still believe in a jury of twelve over an eye of one (BTW I would have voted to aquit OJ because of the way the Police handled the blood evidence, violated basic rules of evidence). So we must see how the justice system plays this out before we start rioting in the streets.
A true friend is one who helps you bury the bodies.
What I saw appeared to be a cop having a bad day and simply overreacting.(Twice) An habitual abuser would have thrown a few more........
BS, and, he didn't just "get slapped".
No need bubba. I have eyes. I saw the tape. That donut eating bully needs to be in jail. Find a friend with TiVo and watch it frame by frame.
My father is a retired police officer. He would have arrested that jerk (the bully cop) on the spot and done his best to make him go to jail.
Nice wish. Here's mine in exchange: douse yourself in kerosene and set yourself alight if the cop's acquitted. But invite me over first to watch. Thanx.
So, does the jury get to decide on a verdict based on all of the available evidence, or should we just skip that inconvenient due process malarkey and move right to a guilty verdict???
8) Some people hate cops because they hate their dads, and hence all "authority figures."
Seriously. I think a lot of the crap cops have to put up with is the direct consequence of family breakdown in the general society.
Please tell me this was sarcasm.
Perhaps on TV, But there was post yesterday or the day before.. on FR that showed the complete tape, I have no Idea how to link but it was here.
http://www.neworleanschannel.com/sh/news/stories/nat-news-154733320020708-090719.html
The only time you don't see edited tape is when something islive, then I would be careful about belieivng that also.
TV stations no longer if they ever did have a reason to broadcast the truth, they only broadcast what they perceive the truth to be.
TV News is a rating race and if it bleeds it is going to be out there and if it shows the power structure in a bad light it is going to lead faster.
Well, can you please view the Link and watch the Video, You're assuming I just fell off the Turnip truck or something, I know what I saw. That Kid was Dead weight when he was picked up off the ground, He was NOT struggling. He looked KNOCKED OUT COLD at the very least... Again I ask where is the Said "TAPES" from the gas station that said were going to be viewed? how come those aren't released to "justify this police officers behavior"? They were right in the gas station, where are those Videos? Odd we hear nothing about those anymore isn't it?
Dispite OJ I still believe in a jury of twelve over an eye of one (BTW I would have voted to aquit OJ because of the way the Police handled the blood evidence, violated basic rules of evidence). So we must see how the justice system plays this out before we start rioting in the streets.
I'm not bringing up Rodney King, I'm not bring up O.J, this case has legs on its own merit. I agree with letting the Justice System play out, as it should be.(which is why I was offended with your first post to begin with) I'm not asking for anything less then that. As far as Rioting in the streets, I have never advocated that, Nor has any other poster here that I have read
So, does a jury get to decide on a verdict on Mr. Crooks' charges based on all of the available evidence, or should we just skip that inconvenient due process malarkey and move right to a guilty verdict (and the beating)???
"noRinoforme" joined only today. Makes you wonder why, doesn't it?
Win or lose, I'd love to see Cochran do that to the cop; then watch the cop deck him right in the courtroom. I would laugh. :^)
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