officers - The Black Vault

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AOfficers' Arraignment, 2nd Ld-Writethru
Eds: ADDS background on Davies, in grafs eight-11.
By JAKE DOHEI~TY
City News Service
LOS ANGELES CCNS> - Three Los Angeles police officers and one former
officer accused of violating Rodney King's civil rights pleaded not guilty
to the federal charges today.
The four were named in a federal grand jury indictment filed in
connection with the videotaped beating of King that followed a car chase on
March 3, 1991.
Officers Laurence M. Powell and Theodore J. Briseno and ex-officer
Timothy E. Wind ar~e charged with intentional use of unreasonable for~ce for
allegedly beating, kicking and stomping the Altadena motorist.
Slgt. Stacey Koon is chat"ged with fai 1 i ng to stop ·the unlawful assault by
officers under his supervision.
The men faced similar criminal charg~s in a state case. But, under
federal law, they are ~ccused of violating King's right to be secure from
unreasonable force and free from harm while in custody.
During the arraignment, the defendants answered a series of questions
from U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Stone, then stepped to the microphone to
plead not guilty.
Stone, who set a tentative Sept. 29 trial date, drew the name of U.S.
District Judge John G. Davies to preside in the case. But Davie$, who was
out of town today, already is assigned to King's civil case against the
city of Los Angeles.
Davies may decide to take the criminal case as well, or ask that it be
assigned to another judge, Stone said.
Davies, born in Australia in 1929, emigrated to the United States as a
young man. He has a law degree from UCLA and was a gold medalist swimmer at
the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.
Although much of his background is in civil law, attorneys regard Davies
as an even-handed jurist in both criminal and civil proceedings. President
Ronald Reagan appointed Davies to the federal bench in 1986.
The federal investigation into the King beating began shortly after the
March 3 incident, but it was put on hold until the conclusion of the state
case against the four defendants.
The men surrendered voluntarily last week aMd were allowed to remain
free, aftet" agreeing to post unsecut"ed appeat"ance bonds of $5,000 each.
The men will have to pay the $5,000 if they fail to make their scheduled
court appearances. They also must telephone court officers once a week and
visit the courthouse monthl* until their trial begins.
On April 29, a Simi Valley jury acquitted all the officers but Powell of
all of the state charges against them. The panel was unable to reach a
verdict on whether Powell used excessive force against King.
District Attorney Ira Reiner sought a retrial on the single count
against Powell, and an Oct. 19 trial date has been set.
But on Friday, Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Stanley Weisberg put
Powell's state retrial on hold, pending resolution of the federal case.
City News Set"Vice 14:1218 8/10/1992 ., -) q~)) .·;,~
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