The Story:
At least one LAPD officer will be investigated on allegations of misconduct during the arrest of an African-American man. The defendant’s attorney said the officer was caught on camera putting cocaine into the wallet of his client prior to the arrest.
Why It Matters:
Civil rights activist groups like the ACLU have been putting pressure on law enforcement to release body-cam footage on a more routine basis.
Such allegations threaten the integrity of LAPD and will cause embarrassment to the force.
The police in Los Angeles already has a brittle relationship with the black community, and innumerable people have alleged police discrimination and brutality in the past.
The Nuts and Bolts:
Ronald Shields, 52, was arrested in April and faces multiple charges, including the possession of cocaine, a hit and run collision and illegally carrying a gun in his car.
According to his attorney, Steve Levine, body-cam footage, which was shown on CBS 2, revealed that the arresting officer picked up a small bag of white powder and slipped it into Shields’ wallet.
In a statement after the incident, the LAPD said: “The LAPD takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and, as in all cases, will conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether the alleged actions are supported by reliable evidence.”
Hey, thanks for visiting! We’re just a small team working extra-hard to help you cut to the chase on the most important news from around the world, so we’d appreciate your help spreading the word. Come join us on: Facebook and Twitter
Source: CBS 2
