Oh Rodney not again? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 06-21-2003, 10:21 PM

This guy is an absolute menace to society

Rodney King pleads innocent to PCP charges
Associated Press
Jun. 20, 2003 07:45 AM

FONTANA, Calif. - Rodney King, whose videotaped beating by police officers sparked the Los Angeles riots of 1992, has pleaded innocent to charges stemming from an April car crash.

King pleaded innocent to one misdemeanor count each of reckless driving, driving under the influence of PCP and being under the influence of PCP.

Police said King raced through a Rialto intersection at more than 100 mph on April 13 before losing control, striking a utility pole, careening into a fence and hitting a house. King suffered a fractured pelvis and cracked ribs.

Authorities said tests revealed he had PCP in his system.

He was ordered to return to court July 9 for a pretrial hearing.

Outside court, King acknowledged he "may have been speeding a bit" but denied being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He said he lost control of the car when he hit potholes on a poorly maintained street in Rialto, where he now lives.

King had been pulled over in 1991 when he was beaten by police officers who said he acted menacingly and refused to follow their orders. A bystander videotaped four white officers pummeling King, who is black.

After a jury acquitted the officers in 1992, riots broke out across Los Angeles and lasted four days, leaving 55 people dead and more than 2,000 injured. The mayhem caused $1 billion in property damage.

King received a $3.8 million settlement from Los Angeles in 1994.

He had several run-ins with the law in the years that followed and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and four years probation in 1999 for spousal abuse. In 2001 he pleaded no contest to indecent exposure and being under the influence of PCP and was sentenced to a year in a drug treatment center.

CJ · #2 06-21-2003, 11:17 PM

What an idiot!

Frank X. Morris · #3 06-22-2003, 12:59 AM

Howdy All,
He lives 45 minutes away from me. Even that is toooo close.

#4 06-22-2003, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rsbiomedical
[B][He said he lost control of the car when he hit potholes on a poorly maintained street in Rialto, where he now lives.

Sooooo,

How much do y'all think he'll sue for and win against the city for this?

Having money certainly doesn't clean a guy up.

The Godfather · #5 06-22-2003, 07:15 AM

Ah... Rodney.

That night in 1992, My friend, Ofc. xxxxx, from the CHP, had the day off because he was sick, but he would've been there. His friends at the CHP responded and told him this story the next day.

Godamn Rodney was crazy high on something. CHP was there and they were like "WTF?" then LAPD rolled in, and they boned out and let LAPD do the job.

Anyway King was crazy, LAPD maced him, tazed him, nothing, he was so strong and not responsive, and he wouldn't give up. Anyway, they beat the **** outta him.

that's what I was told.

#6 06-22-2003, 07:20 AM

This is his forth or fifth arrest since '92 and he is still just getting a slap on the wrist. I hope that when he finally kills somebody it will be just himself. This guy is a textbook example on why laws have to be enforced.

Piotr · #7 06-22-2003, 11:46 PM

You are all racist! I'm gonna video tape you and start riots!!!

Anyway, did anyone think that this guy was just a poor innocent black man beat up by racist LAPD cops??? Please....

brookspw · #8 06-23-2003, 01:51 PM

Can't we all just get along?

BENZ-LGB · #9 06-24-2003, 12:47 AM

...you're all being way harsh on old Rod. All of his run-ins with the law stem from that harsh beating he took from the cops

The poor man has been traumatized by the mean, racist cops

Incidentally, I know the attorney who represented the City of L.A. in the civil suit brought by Rodney King. He did a great job limiting the amount of damages that the juryy finally awarded to Rod. King and his lawyer wanted far more money than the jury eventually awarded.

After the case was over, King's former and current lawyer bitterly fought over the amount of attorney's fees that each claimed he was entitled to. What a spectacle