Hung Jury, Acquittal In Video Case
A judge declared a hung jury Tuesday in the police brutality case against a white former officer who punched and slammed a handcuffed black teenager onto a squad car during a videotaped arrest.
The jury deliberated more than three days without reaching a verdict against former Inglewood officer Jeremy Morse in a case that raised racial tensions and drew comparisons to the Rodney King beating.
Morse's partner, Bijan Darvish, 26, was found not guilty of falsifying a police report. They both could have received as much as three years in prison if convicted.
The jury, which included only one black member, was deadlocked 7-5 in favor of conviction against Morse, 25, who was charged with assault under color of authority.
Morse sat expressionless with his hands locked after the verdict, while Darvish and his attorney banged their fists on the table and quietly uttered "yes."
Someone in the courtroom yelled, "No justice here!" and was silenced by Superior Court Judge William Hollingsworth Jr.
People standing outside the courthouse held signs saying "Peace After the Verdict," hoping to prevent riots like the ones that devastated the city after four white police officers were acquitted of state charges in the videotaped beating of King in 1992.
Race was not mentioned during the trial. In closing arguments, prosecutor Michael Pettersen said Morse was "an angry, out-of-control officer" who administered street justice against Donovan Jackson, then 16, because he had struggled with officers.
Defense lawyer John Barnett portrayed Morse as an officer who was doing his job and had only seconds to decide how much force to use against a potentially dangerous suspect.
The incident began when Jackson came out of a convenience store after buying gas and a bag of chips to find Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies questioning his father about expired license plate tags.
A bystander videotaped part of the arrest and it soon made national headlines, sparking protests in the heavily minority city of Inglewood, about 10 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
CBS News Correspondent Manuel Gallegus reports that before the verdict was released, as a precaution L.A. police were put on a city-wide tactical alert, putting more officers on the street in case of trouble.
But many Inglewood residents told CBS' Gallegus they didn't expect any violence.
One resident said, "It's not even in the air. The kids are more involved in the Kobe Bryant case."
While the jury was deliberating, a coalition of government, church and community leaders urged calm. Hundreds of volunteers, including some former gang members, planned to flood the streets after the verdict to plead for peace.
Both sides acknowledged that Jackson made suspicious motions when confronted by officers — he put his hands in his pockets — and resisted arrest. He flailed with officers who took him to the ground after he got out of a police car.
The videotape began after that point. It showed Morse lifting an apparently limp Jackson by his collar and belt and slamming his head down on the trunk of a police car. Morse then punched the teen in the head after Jackson allegedly grabbed his testicles.
The video also showed a bloody scratch on Morse's head.
Jackson's parents said he has a learning disability and has difficulty in understanding and following instructions. Prosecutors suggested that may have been why he failed to follow police orders.
They also argued that Morse did not need to slam Jackson onto the police car because he wasn't resisting. They contended the youth had passed out or was semiconscious from being choked by a silver necklace he was wearing.
Jackson was not seriously injured. On the witness stand, the teenager gave inconsistent answers about whether he was conscious when Morse slammed him and said he didn't remember much of the incident. He also denied striking or injuring any officers.
Jackson and his father, Coby Chavis, have state and federal civil rights lawsuits pending against the officers, the city and Los Angeles County.
Morse and Darvish also have a lawsuit pending against the city of Inglewood. The suit claims they are victims of racial discrimination and were treated more harshly than a black officer at the scene who was suspended for four days.