Deputy Elbows Woman on Bus: Teflon Sheriff Lee Baca Starts Campaign Against Her (911 Audio)

By Dennis Romero Thu., Jan. 12 2012 at 1:13 PM

NBC Los Angeles

Nelson: The victim?

When is an elbow to the face an appropriate use of force by a cop?

That seems to be the big question surrounding the caught-on-tape confrontation between a "special needs" woman, 42-year-old Julie Nelson, and an L.A. County sheriff's deputy on-board a Metro bus Monday night.

Embattled "Teflon Sheriff" Lee Baca and his department have started a campaign against Nelson after the footage was broadcast. Sheriff's officials released audio of a 911 call (after the jump) summoning cops to the bus because the woman, the caller said, was "trying to pick a fight on anybody."

While Baca told KNX 1070 Newsradio yesterday that " ... the individual deputy who swung an elbow at the lady is looking at that as a sensible solution, we need to restrain that individual," his department is already heading toward a conclusion:

That the deputy was right.

Consider it's quick release of the 911 call, in which the man says:

Bus lady 911 call by dennisjromero

She almost hit an old man...she seems like she got out of prison... I'll beat up all you guys...there's some ladies here also and we, we're trying to stay away from her.. and she is trying to pick a fight with anybody...She's on the bus with us, oh my God...

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told our Simone Wilson this week that " ... she's a large woman with some mental challenges ... She has four previous arrests and convictions for assault on a police officer ... "

(Interesting how cops, whose job it is to be quick to judge, are always cautioning us to wait for "the investigation" before coming to conclusions about their own -- as they affect maximum spin in the meantime).

If the deputy is so innocent, why did he allegedly threaten the videographer with arrest if he didn't hand over his cellphone?

Despite her alleged special needs, Nelson, who was put on a mental "5150" hold without being arrested, is fighting back.

She told NBC Los Angeles:

I have never put my hand ever on a deputy. Never.

That, however, seems to contradict her record, at least according to what Whitmore told us.

Bottom line: Yeah, she seemed out-of-control. But, despite its popularity in mixed martial arts (UFC) fighting, throwing elbow doesn't appear to be in any law enforcement training manual.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

5150, 911 call, bus lady, caught on tape, LASD, Lee Baca, Metro, use of force

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Too Many Questions

Call for backup and try to de-escalate the situation by verbalization. On a non-compliant suspect resisting lawful detention who is not physically resisting, utilize pain compliance techniques. If that's not effective, pepper spray often incapacitates a suspect long enough to effect arrest. If the suspect is physically combative or spitting and poses an immediate threat, escalate the use-of-force. A baton, kuboton, martial arts techniques are all considered effective tools-- avoiding the head, if possible, as that can lead to death or serious injury. Strikes to elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles seem to work well. A Taser will bring most folks to the ground. Next is the carotid choke-out. Some agencies have modified it to prevent the likelihood of death. Firearms are always a last resort because of the possibility of a deadly force incident. If backup arrives in time, swarm the suspect and take them down while controlling the arms and legs before handcuffing. It's basic police work. It's taught at the academy. It's reviewed at Roll Call training. It's worked on and used during supplemental training cycles. And it's generally used effectively in the field. It's not always perfect, and rarely pretty, as police work does entail a certain brutality when suspects are non-compliant. Generally, the amount of force utilized during a detention and arrest is usually determined by the suspect. On the face of it, this suspect appears to be slightly resisting, and she is definitely vocalizing, but is she physically combative? Why didn't the secondary officer use a wrist lock to control and to distract her? Why didn't the primary officer then give her an additional taste of pain compliance based upon the standard escalation of use-of-force? Did she pose such a significant threat to two officers trained to deal with this type of situation that she warranted a head strike? She is mentally challenged, it is evident, and it does manifest itself in intense vocalization-- but is that enough to warrant a strike to the head? Backup is a few minutes away. When it arrives, the suspect is finally overpowered and subdued. Did this officer step over the line too soon after being provoked by a disrespectful "verbal assault," lose his cool, and apply street justice because of "contempt of cop?" In some respects, it worked out because nobody is seriously injured, but is it "good" police work?