10/05/2012 - Myclipp

Los Angeles Times/ - Politics, Qui, 10 de Maio de 2012
CLIPPING INTERNACIONAL (Civil Rights)
Pasadena police are ‘lawless gang,’
shooting victim’s family alleges
The family of Kendrec McDade, the unarmed
19-year-old fatally shot by Pasadena Police, accused
officers of being "Keystone cops" and a "lawless gang"
who believed they could get away with anything,
according to court papers filed this week. The
allegations were contained in amendments to a lawsuit
filed by the family against the Pasadena Police
Department. The lawsuit, originally filed April 3, seeks
compensation for the wrongful death of McDade. It
also claims civil rights violations by several Pasadena
police officers. McDade was fatally shot March 24 by
Pasadena police officers responding to a robbery call.
Although a 911 caller had reported being robbed by a
man with a gun, police later discovered McDade was
unarmed. In Tuesday's amended pleading, attorney
Caree Harper offers new details of the shooting,
stating the patrol car being driven by Officer Jeff
Newlen or Mathew Griffin was going backward with the
driver's side door open "at a rapid rate of speed" at the
time officers encountered McDade, the Pasadena Sun
reported. The court papers say a couple walking in the
area saw the car moving backward and the husband
said to his wife, "I think they are going to shoot that
guy." The document does not indicate that the couple
witnessed the shooting. The complaint adds a new
name, Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte Riddle, to the list
of defendants. The lawsuit asserts Riddle has made
false statements in explaining the case to the public
and the media. In an interview Tuesday, Riddle said, "I
have not had an opportunity to review that amended
complaint, but I at no time would misrepresent any
information. My statements have been accurate based
on the information that I have obtained from the
investigation." Riddle declined to comment on the
assertion the patrol car was moving backward at a
rapid pace, saying, "That's part of the investigation that
will be revealed at its conclusion." Riddle said officers
canvassed the area in an effort to find witnesses to the
shooting but did not identify eyewitnesses. "I have not
personally been updated on any additional witnesses,
but that doesn't mean they are not out there or that
they don't exist," he said. Several probes of the
shooting are ongoing, from the Pasadena police
investigation to a review by the FBI. Riddle has said it
will take several months for the investigation to wrap
up. ALSO: Angeles Crest Highway closed after body
found nearby Ex-Glendale councilman John Drayman
released from jail Sheriff's clique may have celebrated
shootings with tattoo, sources say -- Bill Kisliuk, Times
Community News EDITOR'S PICKS: Tattoo in sheriff's
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sense Detectives seek to question son of Pepperdine's
president about death of Malibu woman
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