Unarmed Black Woman Killed by LAPD - Dies in Police Custody after Violent Arrest, Police have Video

From [HERE] and [HERE] Just one day after police officers were disciplined in an alleged use of force incident, the Los Angeles Police Department has a woman's in-custody death investigation on its hands.

At least five Los Angeles police officers are under investigation in the death of a woman who suffocated after an officer stomped on her genital area and others used additional force to take her into custody, police officials confirmed Thursday. The altercation in front of her South Los Angeles apartment was captured by a patrol car’s video camera. However, the altercation began inside the apartment building.  Once outside a female officer then threatened to kick Thomas in the genitals if she did not comply, Green confirmed, and the officer followed through on her threat and allegedly stomped on her groin. [MORE] 

After officers forced her into the back seat of the police car, Thomas is also seen on the video breathing shallowly and she eventually stopped breathing. LAPD officers went to an apartment building on the 9000 block of Broadway on July 22 after two children were found abandoned at a police station. A neighbor says he saw two LAPD officers struggle with the children's mother, 35-year-old Alesia Thomas, outside her apartment.

After questioning her briefly, the officers attempted to arrest Thomas on suspicion of child endangerment, the department’s account said. Thomas “began actively resisting arrest” as officers attempted to take her into custody and one of the officers took her to the ground by sweeping her legs out from beneath her, the LAPD’s official account said. Two other officers then handcuffed Thomas behind her back and attempted to lead her to a patrol car while a supervising sergeant observed, according to the department’s version of the incident.

A witness who lives in the building said the police had her on the ground near the doorway of the entrance of the apartment handcuffed before taking her outside. [MORE]  

Two more officers were summoned to the scene as Thomas continued to struggle. Green confirmed that Thomas was a very large woman. A “hobble restraint device” – an adjustable strap – was tightened around Thomas' ankles to give the officers more control over her and she was eventually placed in the back of the patrol car, the LAPD account said. The official account, however, made no mention of what Green confirmed was a female officer’s questionable treatment of Thomas.

The department’s official account said the officers immediately notified paramedics. It is unclear whether the officers attempted to resuscitate her and how much time passed before paramedics arrived to render medical aid. Thomas died shortly after being transported to a hospital.

Beck's statement said he wanted to find out whether Thomas had been under the influence of any drugs or suffered from a medical condition that could have caused her death before he passed judgment on the officers. (here we go already. LAPD will blame this episode on some drug and her size. expect racism.)

Four police officers and the sergeant were removed from field duties immediately after the incident and investigators from the department’s Internal Affairs unit opened an investigation into the death, Green said. One arm of the investigation will collect evidence prosecutors will consider when deciding whether to bring criminal charges against any of the officers, while another will look into whether the officers violated the department’s policies on using force and other aspects of taking a suspect into custody.

In a statement, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said:

"I take all in-custody death investigations very seriously and directed that the officers involved be removed from field duties until further details are known."

The LAPD plans to hold a news conference on the incident on Friday.