RSSCameras are just about everywhere these days, and their ability to help in solving crimes has become invaluable and almost expected. As helpful as cameras are in recording elements of a crime, they have also been just as beneficial for suspects of crimes. Police dash cams, for instance, can capture most parts of a traffic stop and relay an answer to the question of proper police procedure.
Civilians’ cameras are also proving valuable when it comes to questioning the actions of local police. Recently here in Southern California, a bystander’s video recording of a California Highway Patrol officer’s actions has concerned many. The incident happened on July 1, when a reportedly homeless woman appeared to be wandering near traffic on the 10 Freeway.
A CHP officer arrived and ordered the woman to stop, but apparently the woman kept going and was beginning to veer into lanes of traffic. At that point, the officer grabbed her arm while the woman tried to keep her distance. What a bystander recorded next was deeply troubling to many who viewed the video clip later: the officer began hitting the woman on the ground while she tried to shield herself from the blows.
Fortunately, an off-duty police officer arrived on the scene and was able to subdue the first officer. The woman, who was both a mother and a resident of a local homeless encampment, did not suffer serious injuries but was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
According to one retired L.A. police captain, one can’t immediately conclude the force used was excessive or unwarranted. In his opinion, videos may tell part of the story but may not always capture every moment leading up to an altercation. The former officer said that two of the most important questions are why did the incident happen and was it justified legally or not.
According to the attorney for the woman’s family, deciding if the force used was excessive should not be influenced by the woman’s mental health status. He also emphasized the importance of properly training law enforcement on appropriate conflict de-escalation techniques.
Contact the Law Offices of Jonathan I. Kelman at 310.286.1218 for additional information about cases involving police misconduct or excessive use of force.