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

Comments

[Oscar]

Nobody ever deserved unjustified violence from a police officer. They have absolutely never the right to harm a suspect if it is not absolutely necessary – and there clearly no danger from the suspect in this moment. How can these conservatives here protect the officer?? How can we feel safe if such persons are around and should protect us? – Thanks for such a protection.
Has anybody of you even been stopped by police in for example Europe? That is a completely different thing from which we can learn a lot. Nobody needs to fear being hit, shot or getting fined just because an officer is in the mood to do that. Anan is right we are losing our famous “moral high ground” over such events.

[Francisco Yanez]

This police officer should be stripped of his badge and pay for the damages sustained by the victim. He has no right to abuse his power under any circumstance that is why police officers go through training. They just don't get hired because they want to serve. He should take responsibility for his actions. After all would the cop want the same punishment if he abuses his power? I think not so with that being said I hope he gets fired and sued.

[Michael]

Gang banging scum bag could have killed any child crossing the street, eventually this scum will kill someone who is innocent. That is not our fault. it is his. His head should have come off. Darwins favor.

[mike tazman]

Cameras are everywhere. This video shows why kids won't stop for police. They don't want to get beat up. And the public is put in more danger. When the cops act like criminals they should be treated as criminals. This is not a game.

[Joe]

My nephews a cop, and if he did that he should be in trouble. The idiots who say more power to this cop wouldn't say that if it were them or their kids. The cop is a bigger idiot. There was a camera watching, and he still did it.

[e]

shouldn't have kicked him...should have shot him dead!!!!!

[Chris]

As much as the suspect deserved a good beating, we cannot allow law enforcement to get away with this sort of thing.

[Debbie]

The cop should've kicked him harder - Period.

[FKCOPS]

This cop is a idiot, acting like a criminal. We should not tolerate anyone like him to patrol on the street. Your love one or even you may get beated up by this stupid cop someday, Nobody is above the law, he should go to jail,

[eb]

This guy deserved to be kicked and more.

What a piece of human garbage.

[Brijesh]

Much deserved kick..Why are the idiots on this page complaining for?

[Nick At Nite]

The cops should have beat that gang banger into a coma once he was away from public view, perhaps at the city or county jail in a room without any cameras. Oh wait, then we would have to pay for his medical rehabilitation. Can't we just throw these pieces of trash into a tree grinder and use them as mulch in the city hall flower gardens?

[jeffrey hepler]

I think we are missing the most important question of all: Is the shoe okay?

[Mark]

For those of you bad-mouthing the Police behavior, perhaps you should look at the totality of the circumstances. The gang members in the suspect vehicle had no regard for public health and safety, they endangered the lives of countless civilians AND the Officers in the chase, and the suspect ONLY surrendered because he couldn't get over the last wall he encountered.

Undoubtedly, the suspect (who had a very lengthy criminal history) will do the same thing again when he gets the opportunity. Somebody needs to send these type of individuals a message that there are consequences for their behavior. The court system surely isn't doing it!

The rabbit got what was coming to him!

[Barbara]

I am sick to death of criminals costing the tax payer so much money. Now we have this fool, a criminal, who will get some low life attorney to milk the tax payer more money. I hope that before any money is paid out that 1) they look at all the time that police officers, parole officers, and jail housing this crminal has cost the tax payer and deduct in from any pay out he gets for his alleged kick in the head and 2) that any of his victims get reimbursed for what he has cost them. Enough is enough, when are criminals going to be treated like criminals.

[Pearl]

Ok people come on how can you be so ignorant? the US prides itself on being civil and not like other countries where the crowds hand out the justice. This is america and no matter what a person has done they deserve fair treatment and a fair trail. I mean come on like other people say if it were your son or your brother you'd be singing a different tune. But then i see some people say well my family is not that stupid. all i ask is do you think his mom or his dad planned this life for him a sad life of crime and gang banging. I'm sure they didnt but it still doesnt make it right. HIs actions were wrong and he will pay for what he has done but that is why we have the judicial system that we have, everyone is entitled to a fair trail. and his justice will then be handed down to him. A beating and a hi five is not justice what does that prove? How can two wrongs make a right? All that the police officer showed was that he is no diffent than that gang member! in a different sense but the same principle. He stooped to this criminals level. It doesnt get anymore gangster than kicking someone when they are down!! All i ask is people come on dont be ignorant. your missing the point to this! think about it if it were another criminal lets say OJ for example not only would he have gotten away with the murders but he probably would have sued the whole city and won!!!

All of you that support this beating are like a gang too!! Open your eyes and look in the mirror you have the same mentatily that this gang member has! "he did this so lets beat him up!" sounds familiar???

I thought so.....

[fred]

i would like to thank the cop for keeping the streets safe its just a shame they did not let the dog get him first.

[Leo]

It's obvious that police officers have to be better trained to work fast and avoid being video taped by news agencies when motivating suspects......

[ces]

back in the day police officers were respected because you would get your a** beat of you didn't. also, back in the day, if your child acted like this punk, as a parent, you would beat his a** after the cop got done with him. not nowadays... kinder and gentler has gotten us no where. all we got is a bunch of cry babbies. a good kick in the face never hurt no one for long.

[procop]

These thugs nearly kill dozens all the time in these insane pursuits and people still want to protect this guy. Maybe next time it will be your mother whos life is taken by a fellow like this. Then maybe you will think twice about not giving a swift kick to the head. These guys are cowards. They dedicate themselves to a life of evil and violence. If there was physical punishment at the end of these sprees of public endangerment they would be the ones thinkings twice. Not because they regret their actions, but because they fear to consequences. Must we become victims of this evil before fight against it?

[John Hancock]

After watching the video a few times. I will say that in my opinion. I have never seen a kick as well placed not to kill a person. It looks like it hurt a lot but where the kick landed was the best place for a kick not to kill a person. The second officer that appears to be beating the guy with the flash light tried to move the suspects are behind his back but he was reaching under. Since he was un-searched the officer more than likely thought he was going for a gun. Watching the video a few more times shows that the kick really looked painful, however was effective in a distraction long enough for a second officer to get to the suspect. I don't know if I personally agree with the method employed in the apprehension of this suspect; but given the circumstances leading up to the end of the chase I can see where it may well-be justified.

I look forward to seeing how this whole mess turns out in court.

[COL STRANGE]

WHAT ANOTHER COWARDLY COP? ARE THERE ANY
HONEST COPS LEFT IN CALIFORNIA? I CAN ONLY
PRAY THIS COP ENDS UP A PARAPLEGIC FROM CRASHING
HIS CRUSER. YOUR A LOOSER COPPER.

VIETNAM VET

[Tj]

Oh It's OK still police are kicking us in the face when we run red lights. Fools

[hollywood]

I almost never side with the cops, but these gang bangin scumbags deserve to all be kicked in the face, repeatedly. I think if you run from the police in a high speed chase you better be ready for an **s-kicking. I had a friend killed while CROSSING THE STREET, MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS, BY A LOSER LIKE THIS CHOLO LOSER. Think about it people they put us all in danger.

[Brad]

Police are union, and we should support the union workers who make America strong.