The Cellar Image of the Day

An L.A. gangbanger named Richard Rodriguez didn't want a traffic ticket, so he led the police on a televised chase that ended in him crashing the car, followed by a foot pursuit. Allegedly an El Monte cop kicked him in the head, so he's suing El Monte for $5 million.

Quote:

The attorney for a gang member kicked in the head by an El Monte police officer at the end of a televised car chase thinks his client has a great case. On Thursday, Nick Pacheco filed a $5-million legal claim against the city on behalf of the 23-year-old.

But just in case, the attorney said his heavily tattooed client will be getting an extreme makeover in time for a trial, complete with a thick Tom Selleck mustache -- think "Magnum P.I." -- to cover the name of his street gang, which is inked on his upper lip. Richard Rodriguez will also grow hair to cover the tattoos on his shaved head. And he'll wear a nice, conservative suit.

To make his point, Pacheco used Photoshop to show the difference.

hey, if the guy was kicked, and shouldn't've been, I hope he wins his case. just cause he's a waste of a human being doesn't mean we should break the law in our treatment of him. and at least if he looks presentable his looks might not be an issue in whether or not he was treated brutally by the police.

The cop says it's called a "distraction blow", and it's taught in the police Academy. I find that rather a shaky defense, but that's up to the courts to decide. If the cop is guilty, he should be punished. But there is no way in hell this guy deserves $5 million.

Quote:

The pursuit began about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at an attempted traffic stop in El Monte, police said. Authorities tried to stop the motorist for a traffic violation, said California Highway Patrol Officer Jose Nunez. Rodriguez opted to keep going, heading onto the eastbound San Bernardino (10) Freeway, then exited in Baldwin Park, police said. The driver had two passengers in the car, but when the vehicle came to a stop in traffic, one of them jumped out and surrendered to police. The driver, however, sped off again, and unidentified objects were thrown out of the car.
The driver used a sidewalk to avoid traffic before getting back onto the eastbound San Bernardino (10) Freeway, where he was met by two patrol units. Going about 85 mph, Rodriguez took the 10 to the southbound San Gabriel River (605) Freeway and exited on Whittier Boulevard, where the car immediately slammed into a sport utility vehicle. One of the occupants was taken into custody almost immediately and Rodriguez ran to the back of a nearby apartment complex and was arrested there.

Several people hurt, cars damaged, running from police and he's the victim? El Monte should be suing him for damages and wasting their resources.

Radio guys were talking about this nonsense last week as it related to Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg while playing at being a gangbanger. He naturally showed up in court looking like a Rotary Club Secretary. Their suggestion was that you should be dressed the same as you were when you got picked up. All that said they've got to have a fair trial.

If he's having a major makeover they should fix his ears and those big red splotches!

funny that the cop kicked him in the head when said cop has that handy-dandy taser at his disposal. Sounds like cop lost his professional "cool".

Just looking at his pick makes me want to kick him in the head.... as a prelude to kicking his ass. Fucking punk.

Growing hair will not help much. It isn't the crop that needs attention, it is the subsoil.

Check out that hairline--apparently the lawyer's going to give the guy hair plugs while he's at it.

Jeez, I hope that when the cop kicked him, he hiked up his trousers, and, in his best Jackie Gleason voice, said "That's called an 'attention getter.'"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibram

Taking the cops on a chase is a guaranteed beatdown. Just ask lostinnc.

If he wins five million, I think he should have to compensate all the people hurt and whose cars were damaged before he gets a cent. Let him make good the disruption he caused.

DMG got there first but I wanna say:

I am a bleeding heart liberal and chardonnay socialist and proud of it. If it can be proven that he was wrongfully kicked in the head, I would give the cop a verbal reprimand (after thanking him for catching the crook) and award the "victim" exactly one dollar in damages.

Damn tempted to kick him one myself. Dangerous, narcissitic, self-indulgent feral.

So he got ruffed up by the police. So what this happens all the time and I'm betting the only reason this even got a law suite is that he is white.

I'm really surprised at the double standard shown here by a couple of posters. It's ok for cops to kick a man in the head (assuming it's true) but it's not ok for scorned women to seek revenge?

tsk tsk tsk

Sexist much?

Oh not even close to the same thing, Ali. You're really reaching aren't you?

You'll note, too, that I didn't comment on anything about this case, just that the dude looks like a really nice guy.

I was, however, and still am, disgusted at women or men who deserve disgust by simply being disgusting people.

But you seem to have gone to The Merc School of Logic. You two are spending entirely too much time together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Oh not even close to the same thing, Ali. You're really reaching aren't you?

You'll note, too, that I didn't comment on anything about this case, just that the dude looks like a really nice guy.

Get a room you guys.

Whatever, I have no opinion on cop vs freakface. I am a bit chagrined at your lacksadaisical attitudes towards domestic violence...but hey, you choose your own limits, don't you?

Actually, it wasn't really your comments I was referring to Shawnee, but thanks for your input anyway.

In response though, I'll just say that it is the same thing if a crime has been committed. It doesn't matter how much you like the person or even dislike them. According to 'the rule of law' which was pointed out in the other thread, the 'victim' deserves the same courtesy.

eta: Also, my attitude towards domestic violence is not lackadasical. When that case goes to court, those women will have a chance to tell their story. I'm sure they felt he deserved what he got, and maybe they're right, or maybe they're wrong. All I can say is that sometimes a man can push a woman too far, and if he was the sort who preyed on insecure women who then found out there were a couple of others out there in the same situation, I can understand why they'd feel they needed retribution and how they felt strengthened in their numbers.

No I don't condone domestic violence, but I sure can understand where these women might have been coming from.

He should sue all the other people who beated him up before too!
You can't tell me that he was born like that?

I agree with the 1 dollar ..... all the rest would go to people he fu**ed with!

Thanks to the SDRT - I happened upon this thread and offer an update.

"The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office determined late last year that charges would not be sought against Fierro for what officials called a "distraction blow" to allow them to safely take Rodriguez into custody.
An internal El Monte Police Department investigation into whether the incident was within department policy remains ongoing, and the FBI is also looking into the matter.
Following the pursuit incident, it was learned that Fierro owned a business called "Torcido Clothing," which sells gang-related apparel."