Some people believe members of the El Monte Police Department are getting off easy for beating a car chase suspect, where prosecutors have decided not to charge the two police officers involved in the beatings. Because the two men are not being charged, it looks as though they won't be needing Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys, but they may have to deal with angry members of the public for a long time.
However, prosecutors said that the suspect, Richard Rodriguez, was refusing to pull his hand out from under his body, so the officers could cuff him. The prosecutors believed that the police officers used "reasonable force" in the situation when confronting the suspect. Some human rights activists disagree with the prosecutors decision. Samuel Walker, a criminology professor at the University of Nebraska, called Fierro's reasoning for kicking Rodriguez in the head "a ridiculous rationalization" in the Los Angeles Times.
- L.A County Prosecutors Won't Pursue Charges Against Officers (Los Angeles Times)
- Arrests and Interrogations FAQ (FindLaw)
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