Articles

LAPD holding community meetings on violent arrests

Category: National Published on Friday, 14 September 2012 10:27 Written by Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck has ordered his 21 stations to hold community meetings to discuss recent videotaped violent arrests that have raised questions about use of force by officers.

The Los Angeles Times reports dates haven’t been set, but the public will be given a chance to ask questions about the three incidents.

ARREST VICTIM—A photo of Alesia Thomas is held up during a news conference in Los Angeles on August 31. At least five police officers are under investigation after Thomas died during a violent arrest in which an officer kicked her genitals, police officials said. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

One of the videos shows officers tackling a Venice skateboarder who they say resisted arrest.

Another shows a handcuffed woman slammed to the ground during a Tujunga arrest. The woman was pulled over for holding a cellphone while driving.

The third involved a South Los Angeles woman who died after being placed in a police car. Police say the squad car camera shows a female officer stomping on her genitals during the struggle. The confrontation with officers occurred after she abandoned her 3-year-old and 12-year-old children at a police station around 2 a.m. and they wandered inside, drawing the attention of an officer, police said. Thomas, 35, died July 22.