Community activists intend to hold a rally Saturday at noon in Leimert Park to protest “police brutality” in the wake of a widely televised beating involving a woman allegedly walking barefoot on the Santa Monica Freeway (10) on July 1.
The activists are concerned about Marlene Pinnock, an African American woman who was seen in a passing motorist’s cell phone video, being hit repeatedly by a White California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer as he straddled her after the pair fell to the ground on the freeway shoulder near Adams Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
That motorist, David Diaz, described what he saw during the altercation.
“This is not just jabs, they are hooks,” he said. “Those are lights-out punches. Those aren’t like taps. You see it, you heard it. It was like ‘thump, thump, thump’ and then you see her head bouncing ‘bam, bam’ on the concrete. Then you hear her screaming, ‘No, don’t, stop.’ Then you even—at the end where she has her hands up like this—when it’s clear there is no more resistance, he takes another four or five shots,” said Diaz.
Caree Harper, the lawyer who is representing her, says Pinnock’s injuries are severe and that she was being kept in a hospital under an involuntary 72-hour psychiatric hold instituted by officials.
Harper said a hearing was held Tuesday without her presence on potentially extending the hold to 42 days. However, she expects to meet today with a judge and other officials to discuss the situation.
In addition to the hold, Harper said it is possible that Pinnock could be hit with criminal charges in connection with the altercation.
A CHP statement said the officer involved was concerned for the woman’s safety because Pinnock had been making her way along a narrow shoulder, at times walking into traffic lanes.
The officer ordered her to stop, but she did not respond, CHP officials said.
The officer then got out of his vehicle and stood in front of the woman, but she ignored his commands and continued walking, heading westbound against the flow of traffic and at times into traffic lanes, according to the CHP.
Pinnock allegedly became physically combative, prompting the officer to place her under arrest, CHP officials said.
“A physical altercation ensued as the pedestrian continued to resist arrest, at which point a plain clothes off-duty officer assisted in applying the handcuffs to the pedestrian,’’ according to the CHP statement. “When asked if she sustained any injuries, the pedestrian did not advise of any nor were any located by the officers at the scene.’’
Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, has joined the calls for a full investigation of the woman’s arrest.
“Officers are authorized to use force only when reasonably necessary to overcome force or danger posed by a subject,” Villagra said. “But disturbing video raises serious questions whether, in those circumstances, it could possibly be reasonable for the CHP officer to pin Ms. Pinnock to the ground and punch her repeatedly.”
Activists said they met with CHP Deputy Commissioner, Ramona Prieto, who willingly interrupted a meeting on Monday for an impromptu face-to-face with activists to discuss the situation, and on Tuesday with Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow. They have also called for an independent investigation.
“We’ve seen this before, police investigating police and nothing happens,” says Rev. K.W. Tuloss, Western Region Director of the National Action Network, who adds that an independent investigation will put pressure on the CHP.
Najee Ali of Project Islamic and Rev. Tuloss say the rally will go on despite the multiple meetings with the CHP.
In addition to activists, members of the 51-year-old woman’s family, who described her as a “well-loved” mother, grandmother and great grandmother,” have said they intend to file a lawsuit this week against the CHP.
“How do I know he’s not going to hurt me or anyone else?” the woman’s daughter, Maisha Allums, told reporters Sunday. “So I am just here with a voice for my mom and everyone else.”
City News Service and CNN contributed to this story.
