2 East Palo Alto cops indicted in beating case

Two East Palo Alto police officers and a teen volunteer with the department were arraigned in San Mateo County Superior Court this morning on charges relating to the allegedly unprovoked off-duty beating of a suspected drug dealer in August. The men's arrest follows a two-month investigation by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office into the incident, which left the victim bleeding and unconscious on a dark street in East Palo Alto. A grand jury handed up an indictment against the three men Wednesday, after three days of secret testimony presented by prosecutors. Officers Edward Arthur Rivers Jr. and Johnny Taflinger Jr. and police Explorer Eddi Tapia Torres were formally charged with felony assault on a citizen under color of authority, felony assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and misdemeanor battery. According to sources familiar with the investigation, late on Aug. 21 or early Aug. 22 the two officers and the scout were sitting in a car outside a 7-Eleven on West Bayshore Road in East Palo Alto, where they had gone to buy beer. The off-duty officers were not in uniform. About midnight, the officers and the scout noticed a man they thought to be dealing drugs. The youth told investigators that the officers called the alleged dealer over to the car. They asked him if he would sell them some ``dope,'' but when he began to hand it to them, one of the officers allegedly tried to knock it out of his hand, and the man ran. The men allegedly chased him down and beat him with their hands and feet, according to the dealer. [more] and [more]

Comments

[gardens resident]

yes in deed there is a problem in the east palo alto police department ,im a resident here and have never dealt with so much frustration in the police officers , i was recently threatened by an officer and im willing to set him up in any way shape or form , and if i had the cash and resourses i would set him up and let him kick my butt just so we can prove to the rest of the city council that we do have bad cops here in the city that have to go , but as i see its going to cost the city a few lawsuits ,which could instead pay for better schools within the cummunity , its like the police officers think that being bullys will get them respect , and anyone in there right state of mind knows that respect is gained with respect.