El Monte officer kicks suspect in the head after he surrenders [Updated]
TV news footage shows an El Monte police officer kicking a car chase suspect in the head after the suspect appears to surrender.
Video from Fox 11 News showed the incident at the end of a car chase that wound through the San Gabriel Valley earlier this afternoon, ending in a collision in Pico Rivera. The suspect jumped out of his car and ran. He eventually stopped and dropped to the ground on his stomach, with his hands flat to the ground and above his head. The officer ran up to him and kicked him on the side of the head.
Lt. Chuck Carlson of the El Monte Police Department said his officers made the arrest, and the internal affairs department is investigating the incident.
Carlson said internal affairs will review video of the incident and also take statements from officers.
The suspect is a 20-year-old man who was on parole. He was taken to Greater El Monte Hospital. But it's unclear whether his injuries were sustained by an earlier car crash or from the blow to the head.
The officer appears to high-five another officer after the suspect is cuffed.
[Updated: 4:50 p.m.: Carlson identified the suspect as Richard Rodriguez, 23, of El Monte. He said Rodriguez is a member of the El Monte Flores street gang and had been released from state prison in January. He was wanted for a parole violation, but it's unclear if that led to the chase. Check out video from KNBC 4 below.]
--Ari B. Bloomekatz and Andrew Blankstein
Image: KNBC 4 News
EDITOR'S PICKS:
The people(TAXPAYERS) are not at fault, THE COP IS!
Posted by: fred | May 13, 2009 at 10:39 PM
He will get no sympathy from me, and I'm a social liberal!
I've had it with gang members and petty crooks. All they do is graffiti neighborhoods, steal, and hurt or kill other people. I applaud the officers actions; kick that s.o.b. in the head. Maybe it will knock some sense into him.
Posted by: Vicent Adams | May 13, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Those of you who think that this suspect was no longer a threat are DEAD WRONG!!! Add up the totality of the circumstances, this Parole is running from the Police for some criminal reason. Trust me, ANYONE who is desperately trying to evade and escape from the Police in such circumstances has a high possibility of being armed with a gun or other weapon that can cause serious bodily injury or death. If I'm a Cop I definitely don't want to give this suspect any time to think of pulling out any weapon and KILL ME so Yes I would give him a distraction strike!!!! ALL YOU PANSIES WHO DON'T AGREE. I CHALLENGE YOU TO GO ON A RIDE ALONG WITH ANY SOUTH END LAPD DIVISION! THEN TALK!!!
Posted by: Hamilton | May 13, 2009 at 10:53 PM
For decades the El Monte PD has been like this. I was wrongfully detained when I was a teenager and they treated me very similar. I hope the officer gets what he deserves.
Posted by: Andros | May 13, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Looks like there are a lot of cops making comments here.
Posted by: cx | May 13, 2009 at 11:10 PM
when i was coming up it was COMMON KNOWLEDGE that if you run from the cops ...and they catch you ... an ass beatin or at the very least a lil thump to the head . .. if there was no media coverage today i bet that kid would look alot more messed up ...
is it wrong ... YES but then again so is gang violence and the death that falls in its wake
Posted by: billy | May 13, 2009 at 11:12 PM
So what, the parolee got kicked. I'm sure he did much worse to peolpe and probably got worse during his initiation into the gang. He was actively involved in criminal activity. I'm sure that if this POS killed one of your relatives during the chase, then you would want to kick him too. The spinless liberals want safe streets and brave cops, but god forbid if he lets his emotions get he best of him, even if for a minute and even if he does no real damage. I thank the cop for staying the course and find nothing wrong with the kick, the illegal deseved much worse.
Posted by: LA Joe | May 13, 2009 at 11:12 PM
This police officer deserves a bonus!!...Well done officer!!!
Posted by: ProPolice | May 13, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Can't wait to hear the excuses the COPS make for this crime...
Posted by: Observer | May 13, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Just like Chico Police Department in Butte County California and LA county.
PURE BRUTATLITY!!!!!
POWER HUNGRY punks!!!! what happened to innocent until proven guilty.
seems like martial law to me in the video.
officer needs to be punished and examples need to be set for these "public servants"
Posted by: Dr. G | May 13, 2009 at 11:34 PM
This guy almost ran down people while he was speeding on a sidewalk, and then wrecked at least one other car (in this case, in his final crash before bailing)...in my opinion this idiot deserved SEVERAL kicks in the head! Someone way up at the top of this string asked "what if it was a relative of yours?" My relatives aren't that stupid! They have respect for the law. Screw this "victim"...he got what he had coming. That cop should not prosecuted for this. I know you people in CA love saying the cops are bad and everyone else is an innocent victim, but you need to drop that mentality, because the rest of the country is laughing at you. The cops in CA have a double-tough job controlling all the uncivilized animals in your state, and you guys think THEY are the problem. Wow.
Posted by: DY | May 13, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Too bad the officer was videotaped. That thug deserves another kick to the head!
Posted by: El Monte Resident | May 14, 2009 at 12:06 AM
lol good one mr. officer now this criminal is going to get out of jail and sue the department and rip the benefits of your stupidity
Posted by: alex | May 14, 2009 at 12:08 AM
nice having some one to twist the true meaning of expressing our self's thru this medium no wonder u guys are going out of business cut the crap and let the people speak......no foul language
Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment
Posted by: alex | May 14, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Dan Williams is a sad, pathetic racist loser.
You and the ones like you are the reason this country is getting its butt handed to them by the rest of the world and the reason why no other country has sympathy for the demise of this country and rather support it.
You are The Ugly American.
The comments you made to try to justify your racism are just desperate and pathetic.
Posted by: AngusC | May 14, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Oh, wah! (crying like a baby). Why did he kick him in the head? Its not right! That criminal placed the lives of innocent people in danger while in pursuit. What if he had killed a little girl walking down the street? Then, that would be a different reaction huh? Bunch of liberal cry babies here.
Posted by: reconranger | May 14, 2009 at 12:34 AM
If you run expect the worse,you got what you deserved. Punk endangered MY LIFE.
Posted by: mark t. | May 14, 2009 at 12:39 AM
Loved It.....Janikowski would be proud! Once again, act like a Savage get treated like one!
Posted by: E.F. | May 14, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Hey, Xenu, it wasn't the LAPD. Read the article again. Besides, I think the schmuck deserved it. You run from the cops and put countless INNOCENT MOTORISTS in danger, you need a swift kick in the head.
Posted by: anon | May 14, 2009 at 01:22 AM
All of the comments to the effect that 'the guy deserved it' make one realize that the United States is part of the Western world in name only. Except for the tri-colour flag and some cute pictures, not much remains of the enlightenment values of Jefferson or Franklin. It would seem that the gut instincts of many Americans are today wholly uncivilized and basically on par with those of fascist or soviet thugs. There is no understanding of the rule of law that applies equally and unequivocally to all. I wonder what's better: to try to civilize the United States through a slow process of education or just to let it rot?
Posted by: Anon | May 14, 2009 at 03:33 AM
no ifs or buts he shouldnt have been kicked in the head! he could be the worst scumbag in the world but at the end of the day that officer is a LAW enforcer and should not be able to get away with it. if he does its a total contradiction in law but then again the usa is a total contradiction. "land of the free"
Posted by: Adam | May 14, 2009 at 05:51 AM
The San Gabriel papers have three pictures of the gangbanger after he was arrested. He's walking away in handcuffs, sitting in the patrol car with no injuries.
Add my voice to saying job well done to the police officers. Thanks for keeping us safe.
Posted by: Linda | May 14, 2009 at 06:48 AM
When did it become alright for Police Officers to act above the law they enforce? I agree that punishment needs to be handed down, but that's what courts are for. This type of behavior puts honest, hard working, law abiding Police Officer in a bad light. I hate to put it this way, but a negative act such as this should have the officer(s) involved suspended for a period of time.
And please, I support the Police of my area whole heartedly, but bullies, no mater what the uniform is unacceptable.
Posted by: A2spw | May 14, 2009 at 06:55 AM
"For those of you that are advocating this type of police behavior, I hope you'll be singing the same tune if it was your own son or nephew. The kick in the head was completely unacceptable. And both Sheriff Baca and Bratton argue those only a few bad cops in the bunch, huh? Give me a break. "
I don't know about your family, but no one in my family is as stupid as that idiot ghetto gangbanger in the car chase. If they were, I would hope they would get several swift kicks in the head.
Posted by: Very simple | May 14, 2009 at 07:49 AM
Wow --- Good thing he wasn't arrested in Texas eh? They might have been abusive to him.
Posted by: mark | May 14, 2009 at 08:24 AM