LAPD To Hold Community Forums To Address Excessive Force Concerns
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Police Department will hold a series of public meetings to address concerns about recent incidents involving excessive use of force, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Chief Charlie Beck ordered the forums at 21 stations throughout the City of Los Angeles, although dates and times have not been announced.
KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports the meetings are a result of three incidents that were caught on tape where officers used excessive force during arrests.
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On July 22, Alesia Thomas died while in police custody following a child endangerment investigation in South LA.
A patrol car recording, which has not been released, caught Thomas fighting with officers who reportedly preformed a leg sweep that took her to the ground while two other officers handcuffed her.
Thomas resisted entering the police car, so officers placed a hobble restraint on her ankles and put her in the back seat in a seated position, police said.
Within minutes, they noticed Thomas did not appear to be breathing and immediately called for Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, according to police. She was taken to a hospital and died a short time later.
On Aug. 18, four officers allegedly dog piled onto 20-year-old Ronald Weekley, Jr. in an effort to subdue him. Police say he was resisting arrest.
Weekley said he suffered a broken nose, fractured cheekbones and a concussion in the Venice incident.
On Aug. 21, the arrest of Michelle Jordan was caught on surveillance in Tujunga.
The 34-year-old Sunland woman was pulled over after she was caught driving while talking on her cell phone.
Video shows the woman arguing with officers who then arrested her and threw her to the ground twice during the incident.
Jordan suffered bruises to her face and body.
The meetings will allow police to answer questions about the use of force as well as department procedures.
