No verdict against policeman filmed beating teen
Prosecutors in Los Angeles were today deciding whether to seek a retrial after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of a policeman who was caught on video assaulting a handcuffed black teenager.
The jury, which included one black member, cleared Jeremy Morse’s partner of making a false report about the incident last July in Inglewood.
Morse is white, and the tape of him punching and slamming Donovan Jackson, then 16, into the side of his patrol car evoked painful memories of the police beating of motorist Rodney King and the riots it sparked.
Morse, 25, was expressionless as the jury returned without a verdict on him after three days of deliberations. Both he and his partner, 26-year-old Bijan Darvish, could have been jailed for three years if convicted.
When the jury said it was deadlocked on Morse, someone in the court stood up and yelled: “No justice here!”
District Attorney Steve Cooley said his office would review the proceedings against Morse and decide whether to seek a retrial.
People outside held up signs saying “Peace After the Verdict”, hoping to prevent riots like the ones that devastated Los Angeles in 1992 after four white officers were acquitted of charges in the videotaped beating of King. The four days of riots left 55 people dead and more than 2,000 injured.
The city’s police chiefs anticipated trouble last night and kept officers late on their shifts and increased patrols – but no violence was reported following the verdict.
Jackson, who was not in court yesterday, and his father Coby Chavis also have state and federal civil rights lawsuits pending against the officers, the city and Los Angeles County.
Prosecutor Michael Pettersen had described Morse as “an angry, out of control officer” who beat up Jackson because he struggled.
Defence lawyer John Barnett portrayed Morse as an officer who was only doing his job and had just seconds to decide how much force to use against a potentially dangerous suspect.
The incident began when Jackson came out of a shop at a petrol station to find police questioning his father about expired licence plate tags.
Both sides acknowledged Jackson made suspicious movements when confronted by the officers – he put his hands in his pockets – and resisted arrest.
The video, filmed by a bystander, showed Morse lifting an apparently limp Jackson by his collar and belt and slamming his head down on the back of a police car.
Morse then punched the teen in the head after Jackson allegedly grabbed his groin. The video also showed a bloody scratch on Morse’s head.
Jackson’s parents said he has a learning disability and has difficulty understanding and following instructions. Prosecutors suggested that may have been why he failed to follow police orders.
They also argued that Morse did not need to slam Jackson onto the police car because he was not resisting.
They contended that the youth had passed out or was semiconscious from being choked by a silver necklace he was wearing.
Jackson was not seriously injured. On the witness stand, he had given inconsistent answers about whether he was conscious when Morse slammed him and said he did not remember much of the incident. He also denied striking or injuring any officers.
Morse and Darvish also have a lawsuit pending against the authorities in Inglewood, claiming they were victims of racial discrimination and were treated more harshly than a black officer at the scene who was suspended for four days. Morse has been fired but Darvish remains on the force.
The judge said a hearing on whether to have a retrial would be held on September 22, and that if one was to be held it would begin on September 29.
