1990s LA police beating victim Rodney King found dead

[big dog cowboy]

Breaking news:

(Reuters) - Rodney King, whose police brutality case in 1991 led to deadly riots in Los Angeles, was found dead in a swimming pool on Sunday in Rialto, California, police told CNN.

King, 47, whose beating at the hands of Los Angeles police was captured on video by a bystander, was discovered by his fiancé, Rialto police Captain Randy Deanda told CNN. There were immediate signs of foul play.

http://news.yahoo.com/1990s-la-polic...153048343.html

[DallasEast]

"There were immediate signs of foul play."

Murder is a terrible thing, but for the sake of media sanity... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let the perpetrator have zero connection with law enforcement.

[wittenacious]

Reading the linked news blip now, it says "There were 'no' immediate signs of foul play." They left "no" out the first time, apparently.

From the news report:

King, 47, whose beating at the hands of Los Angeles police was captured on video by a bystander, was discovered by his fiancé, Rialto police Captain Randy Deanda told CNN. There were no immediate signs of foul play.

(This version of the story has been corrected to add dropped word in second paragraph)

(Editing by Bill Trott)

[Reality]

Originally Posted by wittenacious

Reading the linked news blip now, it says "There were 'no' immediate signs of foul play." They left "no" out the first time, apparently.

From the news report:

King, 47, whose beating at the hands of Los Angeles police was captured on video by a bystander, was discovered by his fiancé, Rialto police Captain Randy Deanda told CNN. There were no immediate signs of foul play.

(This version of the story has been corrected to add dropped word in second paragraph)

(Editing by Bill Trott)

Either a highly suspect or incredibly stupid typo.

#reality

[DallasEast]

Originally Posted by wittenacious

Reading the linked news blip now, it says "There were 'no' immediate signs of foul play." They left "no" out the first time, apparently.

From the news report:

King, 47, whose beating at the hands of Los Angeles police was captured on video by a bystander, was discovered by his fiancé, Rialto police Captain Randy Deanda told CNN. There were no immediate signs of foul play.

(This version of the story has been corrected to add dropped word in second paragraph)

(Editing by Bill Trott)

Thank goodness!

[CashMan]

Considering he had a drinking problem, and a large body of water and alcohol do not mix well, I am going to assume, he drank and decided it would be a good idea to go swimming.

[vta]

I read something about him on NPR a few weeks (month?) ago, it seemed he was doing good. Pretty shocking in the face of that.

[wittenacious]

Just so nobody thinks I misquoted the linked report in my first post ... check this out: They've edited their story, yet again.

That's twice now that I know of. I clicked the link in the OP again, just now, to check something I thought I'd read earlier, only to find they've now posted yet another rewritten version of their report.

The report has gone from 2 paragraphs to 6, as it reads now. The editors (now two are credited, not just the one from before) must be continuing to rework a rookie reporter's story, or some such? Talk about a fluid story, lol, the same report keeps changing.

They've removed the wording I C&Pd in my first post, and replaced it with slightly different wording:

The Rialto police department is conducting a drowning investigation and De Anda said
there were no preliminary signs of foul play.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Bill Trott and Will Dunham)

So, for the moment, they are sticking with the "no preliminary signs of foul play" but have edited (again) and expanded the report to include other past Rodney King info.

Never saw one story keep changing like this one has. Apparently it's a work in progress. Who knows how the write-up will look and read in it's final version, once they've decided they're done with it.

[juck]

R.I.P. Rodney King

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by wittenacious

Just so nobody thinks I misquoted the linked report in my first post ... check this out: They've edited their story, yet again.

That's twice now that I know of. I clicked the link in the OP again, just now, to check something I thought I'd read earlier, only to find they've now posted yet another rewritten version of their report.

The report has gone from 2 paragraphs to 6, as it reads now. The editors (now two are credited, not just the one from before) must be continuing to rework a rookie reporter's story, or some such? Talk about a fluid story, lol, the same report keeps changing.

They've removed the wording I C&Pd in my first post, and replaced it with slightly different wording:

[View Full Quote]

The Rialto police department is conducting a drowning investigation and De Anda said

there were no preliminary signs of foul play.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Bill Trott and Will Dunham)

So, for the moment, they are sticking with the "no preliminary signs of foul play" but have edited (again) and expanded the report to include other past Rodney King info.

Never saw one story keep changing like this one has. Apparently it's a work in progress. Who knows how the write-up will look and read in it's final version, once they've decided they're done with it.

Just as long as you aren't saying King and Ray Lewis look alike. I think you will be just fine in this thread.

BUT!!!


We will be watching you.

[Maikeru-sama]

R.I.P.

Saw a CNN documentary about him this year to discuss the 20 year anniversary of the riots and he seemed to be doing well. Also, his fiance, who he didn't start dating until well after the trial was one of jurors on his trial.

[JonJon]

Sorry to hear that.

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

*** was there foul play or nor?

[Doomsday101]

July 27, 1987: According to a complaint filed by his wife, King beat her while she was sleeping, then dragged her outside the house and beat her again. King was charged with battery and pleaded "no contest." He was placed on probation and ordered to obtain counseling. He never got the counseling.
November 3, 1989: King, brandishing a tire iron, ordered a convenience store clerk to empty the cash register. The clerk grabbed the tire iron, causing King to fall backwards and knock over a pie rack. King swung the rack at the clerk and fled the store with $200. King was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree robbery, and intent to commit great bodily injury. In a plea agreement, King pleaded guilty to the robbery charge and the other charges were dropped. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but was paroled on December 27, 1990.


The Arrest of Rodney King on March 3, 1991
March 3, 1991: After being seen speeding on the 210 freeway by CHP officers, King led them on a chase at speeds estimated at up to 110 to 115 mph. When finally stopped, King refused requests to get into the prone position and appeared to charge one of the officers. He was beaten and arrested. King was charged with felony evading. Charges were later dropped.
King's 3/3/91 Arrest Record

King's Trouble with the Law After March 3, 1991
May 11, 1991: King was pulled over for having an excessively tinted windshield. Although King was driving without a license and his car registration had expired, King was not charged.
May 28, 1991: King picked up a transvestite prostitute in Hollywood who happened to be under surveillance by LAPD officers. King and the prostitute were observed in an alley engaging in sexual activity. When the prostitute spotted the officers, King sped away, nearly hitting one of them. King later explained that he thought the vice officers were robbers trying to kill him. No charges were filed.

June 26, 1992: King's second wife reported to police that King had hit her and she feared for her life. King was handcuffed and taken to a police station, but his wife then decided against pressing charges.

July 16, 1992: King was arrested at 1:40 A.M. for driving while intoxicated. No charges were filed.

August 21, 1993: King crashed into a wall near a downtown Los Angeles nightclub. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.19. King was charged with violating his parole and sent for sixty day to an alcohol treatment center. He was also convicted on the DUI charge and ordered to perform twenty days of community service.

May 21, 1995: King was arrested for DUI while on a trip to Pennsylvania. King failed field sobriety tests, but refused to submit to a blood test. He was tried and acquitted.

July 14, 1995: King got into an argument with his wife while he was driving, pulled off the freeway and ordered her out of the car. When she started to get out, King sped off, leaving her on the highway with a bruised arm. King was charged with assault with a deadly weapon (his car), reckless driving, spousal abuse, and hit-and-run. King was tried on all four charges, but found guilty only of hit-and-run driving.

March 3, 1999: King allegedly injured the sixteen-year-old girl that he had fathered out of wedlock when he was seventeen, as well as the girl's mother. King was arrested for injuring the woman, the girl, and for vandalizing property. King claimed that the incident was simply "a family misunderstanding."

September 29, 2001: King was arrested for indecent exposure and use of the hallucinogenic drug PCP.


Could careless about this thug.

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I think you mean couldn't care less about this thug.

Still, he was not a fine citizen but he never asked the fuzz to pummel him something fierce for no reason and then get off in a crappy verdict causing days of rioting in Los Angeles.