EL Monte cop kicks prone suspect (on live TV) after pursuit

[Liberal_in_LA]

The kick comes at 0.40 on the tape.

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/crime/ci_12365236?source=rss

EL Monte cop kicks prone suspect after pursuit

PICO RIVERA - A high-speed police pursuit shown on live television Wednesday ended with an El Monte police officer kicking a prone and surrendering suspect in the head.

News helicopters filmed and followed the nearly half-hour long chase from El Monte through several neighborhoods in the East San Gabriel Valley. The car pursuit climaxed with a collision on Whittier Boulevard in Pico Rivera.

Following the crash the suspect bolted from his car and ran into the backyard of a nearby home. When he reached a dead end in the backyard, the suspect lay face down on the grass in a prone position.

An unidentified El Monte police officer, with his gun apparently drawn, approached the suspect and kicked him once in the head. The scene was broadcast on both KNBC and KTTV.

A second officer approached and appeared to pummel the suspect with a baton or flashlight.

After the suspect was handcuffed, the officer who kicked him high-fived a third officer, who was handling a police dog.

[ThomCat]

1. The chief is trying so damned hard to not have to give an opinion

even though the police brutality couldn't get any more blatant and was filmed live.

If that's not a sign that he's going to support an administrative cover-up I don't know what is. He doesn't want to punish those cops. His department will find some way to give them a meaningless slap on the wrist and a long paid vacation. I'd bet on it already. :(

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. The chief will be bolstered by polls such as this. 60% say kick was justified.

Based on the video, was the police officer justified in kicking the suspect in the head?
Total Votes = 705
Yes
60.70 %
No
34.60 %
Can't tell from the video
4.680 %
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Reference to the suspect's race in the local forums. Apparently a kick to a BROWN head is ok for some.

[ThomCat]

3. People are vicious.

:(

It's really sad that people will approve of police brutality just because the brutality is against gang members. Police brutality is never acceptable.

Police that will beat these guys will beat anyone. If they get used to being violent on the job then violence becomes part of the job. x(

[Zywiec]

4. "I will not say it's right or wrong until I see all the facts,"

El Monte police Chief Tom Armstrong declined to name the involved officers and said he is reserving judgment on the incident until an investigation is complete.

:puke:

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. ACLU is getting involved, they'll show the chief the facts

[anigbrowl]

6. Just when you think the story can't get any worse...

A police officer involved in the violent arrest of a surrendering gang member owns a clothing business that features gang- and prison-themed attire. Court records show George Fierro as the owner of Torcido Clothing, an online business that sells clothes with logos and symbols associated with gang and prison life.

El Monte police have not identified the officer seen on television as he kicked the suspect in the head after a car chase Wednesday. Police have also not named another officer who struck the man with a flashlight and other officers who arrived to complete the arrest. Lt. Dan Burlingham would only confirm Friday that Fierro was one of the officers involved. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, citing unidentified sources within City Hall, reports Fierro was the officer who kicked the suspect.

The clothing line was the subject of a defamation lawsuit filed on behalf of Fierro, a 16-year department veteran and detective assigned to the gang unit, according to court papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Fierro, 41, sued a Los Angeles police detective in October 2007 alleging the detective sent an e-mail message to members of the California Gang Investigators Association denigrating the clothing line. The lawsuit was later dismissed.

"Has anyone seen or know about this gang clothing that a police officer is selling to gangsters," the message by Detective David Espinoza said. "I understand the gangs really love this cop. I understand the clothing has hiding places for contraband, guns and dope. Things that can hurt our real cops on the street."

WTF...more at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/13/state/n153554D05.DTL&tsp=1