ACQUITTALS IN RODNEY KING BEATING SPARKED OUTRAGE

Thirty years ago this week, Los Angeles erupted after a jury cleared four White police officers accused of beating Black motorist Rodney King of all but one charge.

San Diego saw scattered protests and vandalism. About 1,000 National Guard troops from the San Diego area were deployed in L.A.

Later, in federal court, two of the officers were convicted for violating Rodney King’s civil rights. King was ultimately awarded $3.8 million in compensatory damage for his 1991 beating.

From The San Diego Union-tribune, Thursday, April 30, 1992:

KING VERDICT SPARKS WAVE OF ARSON, LOOTING IN L.A.

JURY ACQUITS 4 OFFICERS ON ALL BUT ONE COUNT

By Norma Meyer and Paul Pringle, Copley News Service

A jury cleared four white police officers yesterday of all but one count in the videotaped beating of black speeding suspect Rodney King, a decision that shocked virtually every segment of the city and touched off widespread rioting.

The jury’s decision came despite the nowinfamous videotape’s graphic images of the beating and was quickly labeled a miscarriage of justice by civil rights activists and city political leaders.

The six-man, six-woman jury — which included no blacks — deadlocked 8-4 for acquittal on one charge of excessive force against Officer Laurence Powell, the policeman seen on an amateur videotape delivering more than 40 baton blows to King.

Superior Court Judge Stanley Weisberg declared a mistrial on that one count. Prosecutors said they may seek to retry Powell on that charge and asked for a May 15 hearing.

“I’m going to relax for the first time in a year,” said a smiling Powell, minutes later as he hugged his mother and father, a Los Angeles County marshal.

“This has been 100 percent of my thoughts for a year.” After seven days

The stunning climax to one of the country’s most closely-watched trials came on the seventh day of deliberations after 32 hours of jury talks.

Jury forewoman Dorothy Bailey, a 65year-old program manager for Navy contracts, however, announced that the notguilty verdicts were reached in less than a full day of deliberations and the rest of the time was spent on the hung count.

Frightened jurors later were whisked away under heavy escort. Late last night, one of the jurors said King’s failure to testify may have affected the verdict.

“Had King been able to talk with use, the video might have been looked at differently,” the juror was quoted on ABC’S “Nightline.” The juror agreed to be interview if not identified.

Outside the semi-rural courthouse, 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles, tempers flared yesterday afternoon as police supporters and opponents shouted racist remarks at each other and mobbed two defendants as they made a dash for their cars with armed escorts.

“Bull, there ain’t going to be no calm,” yelled black Compton City Councilwoman Patricia Moore to a throng outside the courthouse.

A crowd of 70 people rushed toward Sgt. Stacey Koon and former Officer Timothy Wind, shouting obscenities as Ventura sheriff ’s deputies accompanied them outside.

Others hurled rocks at Powell, striking a deputy instead.

Powell, Wind, Koon and Officer Theodore Briseno were charged with assault and excessive force in King’s March 3, 1991 beating after a high-speed pursuit.

Koon also was charged with being an accessory after the fact, and along with Powell with filing a false police report to cover up alleged wrongdoing.

The prosecution’s key evidence, a graphic 81-second videotape taken by plumber George Holliday from his apartment balcony, shows Powell and Wind kicking and hitting King with their batons more than 50 times.

Koon, the supervisor, is shown manipulating wires from stun-gun darts shot into King. Briseno is seen stomping King once.