A young college student named Aibuedefe Oghogho is suing the LAPD after he was assaulted and tased while leaving a Hollywood nightclub. Oghogho claims he was unjustly beaten by officers.
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According to the student, who has no criminal past, “All I could remember was just sirens and punches.”
Oghogho has filed a lawsuit against the LAPD, alleging excessive use of force and a violation of his civil rights for the arrest that happened on Oct. 22, 2010.
The entire incident was captured on video.
As reported by CBS News:
In the video, officers can be seen pulling up in an unmarked car and asking Oghogho what he’s holding. He says one of the officers pushed him, and Oghogho admits to putting up an arm and saying, “Stop.” That’s when he says things went south.
During the struggle, Officer Jenkins can be seen pulling his baton and striking Oghogho in the neck. He and his partner, Officer Tafoya, are then seen repeatedly punching Oghogho while he is on the ground. Oghogho is then put in handcuffs and is motionless on the ground when what appears to be an army of backup officers arrive.
“They picked me up, threw me onto this fence and they threw me onto the fence started hitting me while I was on the fence and then they slammed me down like head first,” Oghogho said. “And I’m…and it’s the whole time they’re doin’ it, the whole time they’re doin’ it, I hear one officer keep punching me in my face, he’s telling me, ‘stop resisting arrest, stop resisting arrest’ and all I could say to myself was, ‘I’m not resisting.’”
The most painful moment happens out of view of the camera, when he is taken to the ground one more time and a third officer, Officer De La Torre, pulls out his Taser and issues a five-second shock.
Oghogho was ultimately arrested on suspicion of felony resisting arrest. He was treated for minor injuries and there were no broken bones.
The LAPD says that the officers acted properly in response to the threat posed by Oghogho, although they are not commenting on the lawsuit, citing ongoing litigation. Officials did say they have turned over all evidence and video to the department’s Internal Affairs division for another look.
SOURCE: CBS
