LOS ANGELES, Calif. – In response to information provided at a press conference held by the El Monte Police Department today, the ACLU of Southern California is releasing the following statement from Executive Director Ramona Ripston:
“We are pleased that the officer who was caught on videotape brutally kicking a prone suspect who had apparently surrendered has been removed from active duty. We are also pleased that the El Monte Police Department has asked the Sheriff’s Department to conduct a review of the incident.
“However, we have sent a letter to Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, asking him to look immediately into this extremely troubling incident to see if criminal charges are warranted. We hope that Mr. Cooley will agree with us that the incident recorded on videotape appears to be an egregious example of police abuse, and that the residents of El Monte deserve a thorough and timely investigation of this action by one of their police officers.”
