Criminals Beware!

If you're a criminal in the Los Angeles area don't expect
to be treated with any respect if you decide to give up
after being pursued by local authorities. Check out the
story below.


Prosecutors have decided not to charge two El Monte Police Department officers who kicked a car chase suspect in the head and hit his arm with a flashlight as he was lying on the ground at the end of a televised high-speed pursuit, saying they used "reasonable" force.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office noted in its decision that officers George Fierro, 41, and James Singleterry, 40, were confronting a "highly dangerous and unpredictable" gang member who had evaded parole supervision and demonstrated no regard for human life during the 34-minute pursuit May 13.

Prosecutors said Fierro had reason to fear that the suspect, Richard Rodriguez, was positioning himself to attack or attempt to escape when he turned his head to face the officer while lying on the ground with his arms outstretched. Under such circumstances, they said, El Monte officers are trained to deliver a "distraction blow" -- in this case, a kick to the head -- to give them time to apply physical restraint.

Prosecutors said Singleterry struck Rodriguez's right arm four times with the flashlight because the suspect had moved his hand under his body and was resisting being handcuffed.

Use-of-force experts have criticized the officers' actions as unprovoked and unnecessary.

Samuel Walker, a criminology professor at the University of Nebraska, called Fierro's reasoning for kicking Rodriguez in the head "a ridiculous rationalization." He said the decision not to prosecute was "wrong in and of itself, and it also just confirms the belief among many in the community that officers are not going to be disciplined for excessive use of force."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California issued a statement Wednesday condemning the district attorney's decision.




Story continues here!