Last night a pedestrian left an art opening and proceeded to turn down Hayworth Street (just west of Fairfax) to his vehicle parked at the curb on the unusually dark side street.
Suddenly, a late-model sedan swerved into the curb on his right, and a voice barked out from the interior of the unmarked car.
"What are you doing there?"
The local resident hesitated for a second to get his wits about him - at which point - the unidentified man stepped out of the door on the driver's side in a Police uniform and approached.
When the fellow calmly explained he was on his way to his parked car farther down a-ways on the left side of the quiet street - the cop didn't put much stock in his response - for some inexplicable reason.
At this juncture, the pedestrian was led into the middle of the intersection under blinding street lights, as the Officer snatched up an envelope from his shaking hand and roughly tossed the contents of his personal effects onto the roof of his car.
"Where's your wallet," he demanded.
The surprised citizen informed the rude and insulting officer that it was in his back pocket.
Now, the Cop (who still hadn't identified himself or stated the nature of his business) decided to detain the man, in spite of the fact he had been cooperative and was not putting up any resistance.
The thirty-something law enforcement agent whirled the older gent around, ordered him to place his arms over this head, then handcuffed him!
Now, a second officer appeared out-of-the shadows - shone a flashlight into his eyes without warning - then asked for the "keys" to his car.
The distressed detainee motioned to his front pocket.
After struggling to locate the key ring for a few minutes, the officer's partner turned on his heel (after a few whispers between them) and headed up Hayworth towards a vehicle on the left in the next block.
Suddenly, and without any provocation whatsoever, the first officer began to threaten and intimidate his charge into making a "confession".
First, he mumbled:
"What were you going to pay (for) or (in) the car."
The emotionally distraught resident was shocked by the turn of events - understandably - and responded by noting he had his own vehicle parked on the street a half-a-block away.
"Why would I want that car? I have my own just down the street."
The officer retorted in a nasty tone of voice:
"Look, I'll dust the car for prints. So, you may as well fess up."
At this juncture, the alleged suspect was totally confused by the officer's demands.
The cop continued.
"Would you prefer a misdemeanour for lewd conduct in a public place or a Felony Count for obstructing justice?"
Whoa!
What kind of a shake-down was this?
Since when was it considered lewd conduct to stroll down the street to one's vehicle after an entertaining night out at a cultural event in the community?
Obstructing justice?
The unlawfully detained gentleman was beside himself with grief.
The local resident had not only cooperated with the cop, but also gave a detailed account of events he witnessed on the street just before the Officer sped up next to him, and proceeded to engage in what amounted to a false arrest.
For example, he informed the young rookie that as he was heading toward his SUV, he spotted a couple of individuals (at least two, maybe three) lurking in the shadows about half-way down the street.
Was there a drug deal underway, he wondered to himself?
It also crossed his mind that the suspicious characters may have been laying in wait to mug unaware residents in the neighborhood innocently passing by on the street.
So - as he explained to the Officer - he proceeded to plunk himself down on a retainer wall out of sight as he tried to surreptitiously observe what was going on in the shadows ahead.
Suddenly, he heard a shout. But, he couldn't make out what was said.
Now, he spotted someone (it appeared to be a male) dart off like he was either trying to elude or catch up to someone.
A second or two later a second individual raced off in the same direction (after him?).
The two individuals both turned down a cross-street at the next corner and out of sight.
Then, he noted for the record, that he heard a car door slam in the vicinity of the commotion.
At this juncture, a man calmly (but swiftly) walked up the other side of the street opposite him, in a Northerly direction towards busy Santa Monica Boulevard.
Alone in the dark night, and not knowing what to think of the startling events, the bystander proceeded towards his vehicle.
At this juncture, the cop sped up and the aforementioned events I reported here, unfolded like clock-work.
When the officer made mention of the other vehicle, and that he intended to dust for prints, it was clear at this point to the hapless suspect that the Officer thought he was involved in the incident the detainee was a witness to from his vantage point farther up the street.
There was no way he was going to deviate from his account of things, after all, he was totally clueless about the events and his alleged participation in them.
As the 2nd Officer strolled off to fulfill his promise to impound the subject vehicle up the street, there was squawk on the walkie-talkie.
A dispatcher at the Police Station relayed updated information to his "jailer", that appeared to have an unsettling effect on him.
When the cop signed off, there was an awkward pause for a second, then he informed the alleged suspect he was being "let go".
"We know you are not the individual we were after."
Did the Police Department conduct a search on the title to the suspect vehicle - and after checking the identity of the innocent pedestrian - arrive at that conclusion at long last?
Who knows!
But, shortly after that confession, the Officer made another shocking disclosure.
"I'm with the Vice Squad with the LADP. There was a prostitute giving head to a gentleman in that vehicle down there. I didn't see his face because he pulled his hat down."
The falsely accused gent hadn't even considered that scenario!
A drug deal gone sour, perhaps!
Or, a break-in gone wrong was quite possible, too!
The Officer stuttered a bit and made a lot of silly excuses to the falsely accused man who - in a nutshelll - had not only detained and falsely accused - but publicly humiliated in the street in front of residents of the neighbourhood and strangers passing by.
Indeed - at one point the officer threatened and intimidated the innocent victim - and deceitfully tried to coerce him into admitting to committing an alleged crime he was not part of - or face a Felony charge of obstructing justice.
In fact, the patient detainee had been nothing but cooperative, in spite of the outrageous rights Violations, willful and wrongful illegal conduct of the Officer which was unjust and demeaning - which ultimately - amounted to a shocking abuse of the color of authority.
The intentional act of the - "Intimidation of a witness" - is a Federal Crime, isn't it?
And, what of an officer who tries to coerce a confession from an innocent victim under threat of prosecution?
Notwithstanding, in the aftermath when the cuffs were off, the Officer had the bald-faced audacity to laugh about the ugly incident as if it were a delicious joke to feast on.
"Now you have something to tell your friends for years to come," he guffawed.
And, to the FBI and Police Chief Bratton, for starters!
That cop should be strung up by the ba**s and hung out to dry!
A few days ago, Sheriff Baca threatened to close down the jail, as he belly-ached about a lack of funds in the coffers.
