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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.
His actions all seem to be leading to a self-fullfilled prophecy.
Seems pretty reasonable to me.
While I do agree that he is a "witness" I do not understand why anyone needs to "authenticate the Tape Recording". Will all of the Police that where video taped denied this happened or that they were there If MR. cook doesn't "authenticate it? That being said, what about the supposed Gas station security tapes,? Where are those?.
"I fear for my life," Crooks said. "They're going to kick my ass in a cell and take turns on me, probably."
A) I can understand this mindset, I believe I'd feel the same. B) That being said, I would feel much more comfortable showing up at the grand jury, and also stating that fact to them.
I read on another thread that this guy was a disjocky? Is This confirmed? and IF so why was he not picked up at his place on Employment for the warrant(S)? How do they prove Drunk and Driving after the fact? what is the story behind these warrants? any further Information? Is this Legit or is it a smear campaign? What significance is it If he is the guy that Taped it? Would that make the tape less of Value?
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."
I'm sorry, I'm NOT buying this, A) that child was lifeless when he was picked up, I read today that he was knocked out cold. (as it also appears on the tape) That kid didn't look like he was respondent at all to me. Then he was slammed down. It looked in the tape TO ME, that he was trying to say something, 1)How would he know what he was "grabbing on to" If he couldn't see his hands? Also, It doesn't appear to me that the police officer ever grabs himself once (which would be the normal reaction ) had this were to happen.
I do not at all think this police officers actions were because of "race" I believe its because that police officer is on a power trip. I'm Looking forward to the release of the Gas station Video.
Thank you for the update!
TMMT
Ah, wrong. It's called chain of custody. Sean Hannity already said it looks edited.
You're right! The hood of a car is usually the softest part of the car's body. It would have been much more effective if they had slammed his head on the bumper or the side mirrors. What were they thinking?
We really are doing so well these days as a country.
Mitchell Crooks....
....petty theft
:)
Uh, the LAPD has nothing to do with this. Best get on the same page....
You are correct. The cops have to operate within certain restrictions. Though they may want to beat up 80% of the people they deal with, especially those who resist, that would be breaking the law to catch a law breaker.
Words in itallics are mine.
The attorney should have kept his mouth shut--he's probably going to be fired for offering a really lame excuse (unless the cop is an even bigger meathead than the attorney is).
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