El Monte Police Officer Justified in Kicking Suspect in the Head

See this is the problem, police get away with far too much

The problem here lies in the possibility that someone as unbalanced as you might determined a life or death issue based on his opinion of when "the need" arose.

Liberal Extinction, it had NOTHING to do with the safety of the arresting officer or any bystanders AFTER this guy was under control. You have just proven that your bigoted viewpoint seems reason enough for you to kill him when he was complying fully with the officer's commands.

Congratulations on making the point that reactionary Republican riff-raff should not be allowed to have weapons or pointed objects other than their heads.

always hated cops... always have areason to beat the shit outta aa person, or check a minority person's house without a warrenty. it's called abuse of power and that is what cops do.!!!
my opinion so dont get pissed

@Liberal Extinction

Your two premises are not mutually dependent on one another. Once he was subdued, administering "Cop Justice" reminiscent of the BUSH CRIME FAMILY tactics used at all the illegal global rendition points is STILL against the law.

Your sense of right and wrong is both skewed and arrogant.

It is not very comforting to think that a person who exhibits as many socio-pathic leanings and ideas as do you can obtain a Concealed Carry Permit.

I'm sure the tattoos on the guy would have been reason enough for you to open fire without hesitation.

A distraction blow is what comes to mind after a country has had 8 years of rendition of "detainees". (I'm not talking about the few thousand Al-Qaeda prisoners)

This is what comes from allowing eight years of rule by the BUSH CRIME FAMILY.

I tried responding individually to some of you who responded to me earlier so I'll try again in just one post. Here's a cut and paste of 1 reply.
"We lock them up, give them due process and maybe even lock them up and throw away the key but we DON'T physically assault. Your thinking, as well as others that have responded is prejudicial. Let the law decide what to do, not an individual officer. Do you even realize the damage that officer could've done to this man because of this head kick? Does the name Natasha Richardson ring any bells? This criminal could've died from that assault. Then what? More tax dollars being spent to defend the officer for murder, a civil suit from his family for damages and loss? The laws are there for a reason and if the officers that our tax dollars pay to follow the laws can't follow them, we're in big trouble as a society, imo."
Hempee
I think I'll forget the rest of the reply's as I actually responded to each reply only to have it not take. The second time this has happened today, I'm out of energy.
As I sign back in I notice the video of the officer beating the 15 year old, yet another "justification" I am sure. Maybe she was in a gang?! It doesn't matter, physical assault of a human being is never ok. Imprisonment, MAYBE, Assault....NO way am I going to watch things like this and not be pissed off. I am disheartened to see such prejudice here and such willingness to support police violence because some of you thought he deserved it because of the way he looked or even for the dangerous chase. The bottom line again, he had submitted and the only move he made was with turning the face to the officer. What was he going to do, spit his piercing out his tongue and aim it at the officer's eye? Give me a friggin break!!

He definitely didn't need to be kicked, and the officer suspended/fired.

However don't generalize this for anything other than what it was: Stupid crazy fuck runs from the cops, endangers the lives of civilians. Cop(s) get pissed off at this recognized criminal and when they catch him cop acts badly and boots him in the head to make sure he's down. Clearly neither was acting reasonably, but look at the degree, and don't place all this unneeded "see look at these oppressive horrible police in our police-state gestapo fest that is America." Just because sometimes people act stupid. Cop deserves maybe to not be a cop anymore, and criminal deserves long-term jail time where he probably will be kicked in the face again.

"Richard Rodriguez sped off, blowing through stop signs and running red lights at speeds reaching 80 mph, even attempting to elude authorities by driving on the opposite side of the road and on a sidewalk full of pedestrians, said department spokesman Ken Alva."

You liberal pansies seem to just glass right over this because your fellow obama supporter got his punk ass kicked in the face.

The piece of crap deserved it, how many civilians are these vermin allowed to endanger by running from the cops in high speed chases while all of idiots worry about him getting kicked in the head? Seriously, WTF?

Hood rat thug piece of shit deserves more than a kick in the head.

"The officer saw movement" ya the kid laying down with his hands on his head.. This cop needs to be fired

I remember when people used to get angry at the vicious animals who attacked innocent people and understood that these animals must be kept in cages to protect others, a sad, unfortunate reality.

Look at that cat and tell me honestly that you wouldn't expect him to be dangerous. Cops have the right to protect themselves just as much as we do. Stop being human rights panzies and see it for what it is. The lulz!

I can understand the frustration that builds up for police officers, they do have to deal with societies trash (my mom was a cop for 7 years) but, really? Kick a submissive man in the face? Come on now. Get a grip.

This really angers me! I don't care what the guy did, he was flat out on the ground with hands out in front of him in a totally submissive state! He wasn't just kicked in the head, he was kicked in the face!! There is never an excuse for this when the criminal in pursuit submits like this one finally did. I understand emotions run high in a chase but to label this as acceptable only keeps the abuse of power going. The public should be livid about this!

I'd kick him too.

well when you build a police state by trading your freedom for security this is what you get. Was that a waranted bolw to the head? sure and I was on the grassy knoll. Yet another PIG on parade, so sad to see our nations law enforcement so blatantly overkill. And our televisions are shock full of shit that glamourizes this type of behavior from the man, ie: COPS, DOGG, bla bla bla, enough is enough. Yes this guy should lose his job AND his pension.

Because an attorney says that the cop was justified to kick a suspect in the head, who did eventually surrender, does not mean that the cop was justified. I'd like to kick the cop in the head!

It's to be expected. Your lawyer' job isn't to tell the the public you are guilty after all. The lawyer's opinion isn't the one that matters. It's interesting to know what their planned defense is. Apparently a fairly lame one.

A "distraction blow"? Are you freakin kidding me? How bout someone giving that blood sucking, bottom feeding attorney a "distraction blow". He sure needs one!

RT
www.whos-watching.net.tc

Richard Rodriguez sped off, blowing through stop signs and running red lights at speeds reaching 80 mph, even attempting to elude authorities by driving on the opposite side of the road and on a sidewalk full of pedestrians, said department spokesman Ken Alva.

Sounds like a reasonable and predictable guy to me.

I guess what Rodney King got was multiple "distraction blow" he looked pretty distracted to me...this guy is lucky it was just the one cop..they usually attack in packs

Distraction blow is a rather genius excuse.

There is no justification of any sort for torture and inhumane treatement of any human being. Especially by PO-LICE.

....“distraction blow"?

Kids....

Don't they say the darnedest things when they know they've gone too far?

Somehow i doubt that the court - any court - would agree that a head kick at a face-down prisoner, a kick that could cause brain damage, was a useful distraction.

Why not follow procedure? Slap on the cuffs. Take him downtown. End of story.

This was way too personal.

Having said all that, does anybody believe that our laws really are as tough on gangs as they need to be?

If they were that tough there would be no gangs. Gang membership would be illegal. End of process.

The biggest gang in the world: the police. And in L.A. it seems to fit. More and more the U.S. is turning into a police state. As officers get away with more and more heinous crimes with criminals it will eventually translate into violence against law abiding citizens. Stop this lunacy now!!!

Justified? This is Bullshit.

The guy clearly faced down on the floor with his hands down, giving up to the police.

Speaking independently, a lawyer might deserve respect. But speaking as a representative of a particular client? No. It's the difference between an actor as an individual and an actor playing a role.

IMO? Any rational person would recognize that the suspect had placed himself in a position of total submission. What more could he have done? What more might the kick have elicited? El toro caca!

Worst case scenario: a totally defenseless person who had voluntarily placed himself in a totally submissive position might still have needed to be kicked in the face. Theoretical possible. But from an honorable person that thuggish brutality would have called for regret over its necessity. Instead the cop offered and received a "high-five" from a colleague?

What a load of bullshit! Amazing that they could say that with a straight face. The guy was prone with his arms and legs spread.

Of course in the police union eyes no police officer is guilty of anything. Excussssse me, it's assault. And possibly aggravated assault.