Ronald Weekley, Jr: L.A. Police Union Defends Cops in Video Take-Down of Venice Skater

By Dennis Romero Thu., Aug. 23 2012 at 8:09 AM

ABC7 / Facebook

Weekley.

It doesn't appear that skateboarder Ronald Weekley, Jr. did anything to deserve getting punched in the face by an LAPD cop, as seen on video of his take-down by police in Venice last weekend.

And those badges involved will have to answer why so much manpower was involved in nabbing a 20-year-old over riding a skateboard on the wrong side of the street. (Kids do it all the time, as did this reporter just the other night -- in front of a cop!).

But you also have to ask Weekley a serious question:

Why the hell when the cops told you to stop didn't you just stop? It's the best way to prevent an unnecessary beat-down, if you ask us. Cooperate now, ask questions later.

A friend of Weekley's said that he wanted to keep on going to avoid what he thought would end up being an investigation of nearby gangsters.

He didn't want to be seen as a snitch, ostensibly. If so, it still wasn't worth it.

The L.A. police union came to the defense of the officers involved, stating late yesterday that ...

... It is also important for everyone to understand that it is required by law to follow an officer's lawful commands.

Absolutely true. This whole thing could have been avoided with an about face.

On the other hand, it's just a little amusing to us when the L.A. Police Protective League says, Let's take our time and examine all the evidence -- video doesn't tell the whole story -- when cops play judge and jury, sometimes in error, all day long.

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

Tags:

LAPD, LAPPL, police, Ronald Weekley, skateboard, video

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hectorgonzales98

LA Times reporter said this guy had no physical injuries at the press conference. Other media doesn't seem to be buying this guy's story. A couple of years ago similar in Hollywood cops beating a suspect and everyone jumped down the cops throat. BUT in the end another video from a passerby showed the suspect actually trying to take gun away from officers that was edited out when posted on YouTube. I hope this is the case for this incident. Money money money is what this family is after.

ernestogoldstein

Not that he deserved to get punched in the face, but if ya run away from the cops, it's bound to end badly.

snapsbacula

Three outstanding warrants, resisting arrest, put his hands on one of the cops..... sounds like he was just asking for it. But you sock puppets go right ahead and tell yourselves he got "assaulted" for "skating while black". The real struggle here is US (productive citizens) vs YOU (recidivist cretins).

These cretins are on autopilot & they hate themselves so much they carry envy towards every productive, freedom loving person in their sights. This is a calculated effort to extract millions from those productive people through another lawsuit fueled with the endless narrative of modern civil rights injustices. This boy knows the script & he's going to talk through the side of his neck.

bureaubasher

@snapsbacula

Yep...this is about Freeeeedumb! Yeeehaw!

charlie_oscar

This case is about self-control and the "pack mentallity" that is a common occurence when a group of males - police or gangbangers, (same emotions and testosterone folks) - are so pumped with adreniline and the "US vs. Them" mindset, they become violent and frenzy-like and lash out!

ergo the excessive force punch to the face.

The cover-up and lies are adding insult to injury... 'Grabbed the gunbelt' - really? That is so cut & paste when cops are in a JAM and they are in a JAM on this one! This will be a true test of the Chief...Will he be Daryl Gates on this?