Five LAPD officers under investigation in death of woman
The South L.A. altercation, in which an officer stomped on the woman, was captured on a patrol car's video camera.
At least five officers are under investigation in the death of a woman who suffocated while being taken into custody
At least five Los Angeles police officers are under investigation in the death of a woman who stopped breathing during a struggle that included an officer stomping on her genital area and the use of additional ***** by others to take her into custody, police officials confirmed Thursday.
The altercation in front of her South Los Angeles apartment was captured by a patrol car's video camera.
When asked by The Times about the incident, LAPD Cmdr. Bob Green confirmed that one officer, while trying to get Alesia Thomas into the back of a patrol car, threatened to kick Thomas in the genitals if she did not comply, and then followed through on her threat.
After officers ****** Thomas into the back seat of the police car, she is seen on the video breathing shallowly; she eventually stopped breathing.
"I take all in-custody death investigations very seriously," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said in a statement late Thursday. "I am confident we will get to the truth no matter where that leads us."
The incident came to light a day after Beck announced he was transferring a captain from his command after a separate videotaped incident in which officers were shown slamming a handcuffed woman to the ground. Beck said that video raised concerns and that the department was investigating the officers.
