Ronald Weekley, Venice Skateboarder, Tackled by LAPD, Punched: VIDEO

By Dennis Romero Mon., Aug. 20 2012 at 2:45 PM

Joannontherun / YouTube

Updated at the bottom with police saying Weekley was riding "in traffic." Investigations have been launched. First posted at 6:09 a.m.

A friend of ~~19-~~ 20-year-old college student Ronald Weekley says he was beat up by overzealous LAPD officers in Venice on Saturday. The confrontation was captured on video (after the jump).

The friend, Alexis Parker, says Weekley was trying to avoid gangsters on the other side of the street when police asked him to stop -- and then tackled him when he didn't.

The video shows one cop punching the skater:

Parker says Weekley suffered a broken chin bone, a broken nose and a concussion in the confrontation. Weekley is said to have been skateboarding home when it happened.

According to Parker's account, Weekley tried to ignore the officers at first because he thought they were going after gangsters across the street. He also didn't want to be a witness against the gangsters, the friend said.

When officers tackled him, he was "shocked" and "tried to "wiggle his way out," Parker said via Twitter:

... They threw him on the ground and started beating him up.

Various reports have Weekley as a student at Xavier College but it appears he attends Xavier University of Louisiana.

KTLA News reports that Chief Charlie Beck himself will review the video. The station reported that Weekley was behind bars, booked for allegedly resisting arrest.

[Spotted at Yo! Venice!].

[Update at 2:45 p.m.]: Police have launched two internal investigations into the incident, including one by the LAPD's Internal Affairs group and one by the department's Inspector General, Commander Andrew Smith told the Weekly today.

He noted that Weekley was allegedly riding "in traffic right in front of the officers" when he was told to stop. The suspect was also the subject of a third investigation, this one into his own actions Saturday, Smith said.

The commander urged people to "stay calm" while the investigations proceed.

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

Tags:

LAPD, police beating, resisting arrest, skateboarder, use of force, Venice, video

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Calibear

He got tackled and forcibly arrested because HE DIDN'T STOP WHEN TOLD TO AND HE RAN. Maybe we should just have the police stop doing anything to people that don't cooperate, just let them walk away from the police ifvtey want. Think about that when you call to complain about problems in your neighborhood be it about real crooks or skateboarders. Yeah, people call the police about skateboarders and other "minor" stuff like that all of the time. Your choice people.

robeykr

@Calibear There is no mention of him being "told to stop." As I read it, he was going up to the door of his home when he was tackled to the ground, out of the blue. No warning -- no word of being "under arrest" before the attack.

Mooshka

its time to start killing cops again

mjtambornini

These L.A. Cop represent ALL LA Cops , Now lets give them Paid Administration Leave well the tax payers of LA write their pay check.

yike855

tinyurl.com/cyk9xz2

LA_WEAKLY

All I can say is thank you LAPD for not shooting this man. For maintaining the will to resist unloading your issued Glock 22 firearm into the back of this guys head because its simply easier reactionary move to do that than anything else.

KILL_TRAPWIRE

ALL COPS ARE FASCISTS CARRYING OUT ORDERS FROM THE TOP AND AT THE TOP THEY VIEW AVERAGE CITIZENS AS TERRORISTS CARRYING OUT PRE CRIME SO THEY CAN ADD US TO THEIR TRAPWIRE NETWORK. FUCK THE POLICE STATE. "THERE IS UNITY IN THE OPPRESSION. THERE MUST BE ABSOLUTE UNITY AND DETERMINATION IN THE RESPONSE."

BC_KAWAZAKI

@GunsUpGeorge @dennisjromero @laweekly DUH ALL COPS SHOULD DIE

Saber

@dennisjromero @laweekly #FTP

ReBeLYeLL_247

@dennisjromero @laweekly fuck! is nothing safe,.#PRICKS

princecharming8

"Tried to wiggle his way out"... that says it ALL right there. I don't care whether you did something or not, if an officer pulls you over/stops you for whatever reason, just fucking do it. Soon as you try avoiding them or running away, you are raising their suspicions that you did do something unlawful. The kid obviously didn't just stop and obey the officer's directions. He probably tried running away, which led to the cops chasing him and forcing him to the ground. The fact that he kept resisting is what leads the cops to use more force. Ignorant people who automatically jump on cop for using unnecessary force is what pisses me off. I don't think for one second if the kid stopped and obeyed the directions of the cop that this beating would have occurred, no way.

jynxx.midnite

@princecharming8

If you're telling me with that many people piled on you that you would wiggle even involuntarily and I will call you a liar. I've wrestled, been in fights and been piled on and there has NEVER been a time I didn;t jerk or if I couldn't breathe, Fought to get someone off me. If it takes THAT many police to subdue a 20 year old skateboarder then they might want to reconsider and get officers in better shape as something MUST be wrong with them.

areliq

@LAWeekly this sickens me. to think of all of the arrests that aren't caught on video. #LAPD #LA http://t.co/MAMzCQWe

Pain

anonmouse: you are one deranged person. Any cop is supposed to uphold the law and protect us all, and all of them are entitled to respect. There are no "white man's orders," just rules we all live by. Wait for the facts: (I still hate the silly tickets though.)

apachee55

the skateboarder is the sameone who hit me in the face with a skateboard on venice blvd. I told him then God will get you back.

thesch

@apachee55 u pusi..

TeamDirtyRhymez

@stoneeffect http://t.co/rztw05VG #RT @DirtyRhymez954 "#FuckThePolice" #new #music #video #teaser #HD on #Youtube.com #TeamDirtyRhymez

anonmouse

1 Like

Any minority police officer is an utter fucking disgrace to their race. Carrying out the white man's orders for a small penance. Fuck you.

anonmouse

1 Like

DIRT FUCKING PIGS

Pain

Till I hear the facts I side with LAPD. But, one positive thing: 8 cops on this meant 8 less handing out harassing, revenue-generation tickets to drivers which seems to be a prime LAPD activity now days.

stoneeffect

@MattRPRT damn!! How many cops was that? At least 8+ for 1 skateboarder??? Really?!?! Great use of resources by LAPD...

MattRPRT

@stoneeffect right????

romanbp24

POS cops at it again. The skateboarder is subdued, why does it take like 8 cops to arrest. Why the hit to the face. Its not like he can move. Kid gets to go back home and talk about how LAPD beat him up. Nice job guys!!!!!!!!!