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Who is Rodney King? His 1991 LAPD Beating Shook America

Who is Rodney King

Who is Rodney King

A black man named Rodney Glen King was killed by police on June 17, 2012; he was born on April 2, 1965. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) assaulted him following his arrest for DUI on Interstate 210 on March 3, 1991. George Holliday, who wasn’t participating, filmed the altercation from his balcony and forwarded the footage to KTLA.

The clip shows an unarmed King on the ground being assaulted after first eluding arrest. The incident was reported on by news outlets from around the world and sparked widespread outrage. At a press conference, Los Angeles police chief Daryl Gates indicated that the four officers involved would be reprimanded for use of excessive force and that three would face criminal charges.

Although King was first charged with “felony fleeing” by the LAPD, that count was ultimately withdrawn. After being released, he talked to the media while seated in a wheelchair, his injuries plain to see: a fractured right leg in a cast, a badly wounded and swollen face, bruises all over his body, and a burn area on his chest from where he had been jolted with a stun gun.

He told how he had knelt, spread his hands out, then carefully tried to move so as not to make any “dumb moves”, getting whacked across the face by a billy club and shocked. He said he was terrified for his life as they drew down on him.

1991 Police Attack in Los Angeles

1991 Police Attack in Los Angeles

On the early hours of Sunday, March 3, 1991, King was traveling west on the Foothill Freeway (Interstate 210) in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles with his friends Bryant Allen and Freddie Helms. The three had spent the night watching basketball and drinking at a friend’s place in Los Angeles. Tim and Melanie Singer, a husband-and-wife CHP team, spotted King’s automobile going too fast on the interstate at 12:30.

While King still refused to pull over, the police sped after him with flashing lights and sirens, eventually reaching speeds of 117 mph (188 km/h). A DUI conviction would result in the immediate revocation of King’s parole for an earlier robbery conviction, which is why he allegedly tried to elude law enforcement.

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What did Officer Tim Singer Instruct King to Do?

What did Officer Tim Singer Instruct King to Do?

Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Tim Singer ordered King and his two passengers to evacuate the vehicle and lie face down on the ground. (as per Wikipedia) Allegedly, Allen was kicked, stomped on, insulted and threatened by his attackers. While lying on the ground, Helms took a blow to the head and suffered a laceration on the top of his skull. The police were given his bloody baseball cap. King stayed put inside the vehicle.

Some witnesses say he patted the ground and waved to the police helicopter as he emerged, laughing. Officer Melanie Singer initially thought King was groping for a weapon when he grasped his buttocks, but he was later confirmed to be unarmed.

She produced a gun, aimed it at King and demanded that he get on the floor. The singer came up to him with his revolver drawn like he was about to arrest him. The senior cop on the scene, Koon, announced to Singer that the LAPD was now in charge and ordered everyone to put their firearms in their holsters.

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