Mother demands justice

The mother of a handcuffed suspect seen on video getting punched by an LAPD officer in Watts spoke out today, calling the officer “a time-bomb ticking,” while the man’s lawyer said the officer “does not deserve to remain on the force” and called for the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office to investigate.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Blake Chow of the Los Angeles Police Department said during Tuesday’s Police Commission meeting that the department has fast-tracked a use-of-force investigation into the incident.
Police had previously said the officer involved has been removed from
field duty while the investigation proceeds.
The now-viral video of the incident, posted on social media, shows two officers arresting Alexander Mitchell on Sunday on 113th Street. The suspect is handcuffed, with his hands behind his back and is heard asking loudly, “What did I do, though?”
At that point, one of the officers punches Mitchell in the chin. The officers continue adjusting his handcuffs and take him into custody.
A news conference took place Tuesday morning in downtown Los Angeles, with Mitchell attending with his mother and lawyer. While Mitchell did not speak, his mother shared her anger over the incident.
“I’m outraged. That officer sucker-punched my son while he was in handcuffs,” his mother, An’tneal Harris, said. “It’s horrible. I could have been here planning for a funeral. Something has to be done. It has to stop.”
She went on to say, “To see my only child handcuffed, punched in the face while he was complying — I have a problem with that. This officer is a time-bomb ticking.”
Mitchell’s attorney, Brad Gage, said he believes that more than one punch was thrown, and that Mitchell was sitting in his car when he was approached by officers.
“It was brutal. It was uncalled for. It was unjustified, and we demand justice, accountability and an investigation,” Gage said.
“This officer clearly has anger-management issues. He does not deserve to remain on the force. We’re calling on the District Attorney’s Office to investigate.”
Meanwhile, Chow told the Board of Police commissioners that Mitchell had been stopped for being double-parked and facing the wrong way.
Mitchell was charged with obstructing an investigation, according to Gage, who also said his client was treated at a hospital following the incident.
Civil rights advocate Najee Ali also called on District Attorney George Gascón’s office to pursue charges against the officer.
In addition, some 15 speakers called in to the Police Commission meeting on Tuesday, with some asking the department to identify the officers involved in the incident.