
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 16, 1991                   TAG: 9103160031
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                                LENGTH: Medium

JURY CHARGES FOUR IN BEATING/ LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICERS' CONDUCT `MOST

An indictment unsealed Friday charged four lawmen with beating a black motorist in an assault that was documented on videotape and has spurred a federal probe of police brutality nationwide.

"It is a terrible moment and time for reflection when officers sworn to uphold the law are indicted for these most serious felonies," District Attorney Ira Reiner said.

There was no immediate comment from Police Chief Daryl Gates, who has been under growing pressure to resign because of the beating, which some claim is evidence of racism within the Police Department.

The indictment charged Sgt. Stacey Koon, 40, and Officers Laurence Powell, 28, Timothy Wind, 30, and Theodore Briseno, 38, with felonies in the March 3 attack on Rodney King, 25.

The Los Angeles County grand jury returned the indictment late Thursday after four days of testimony on the beating.

The policemen surrendered to the district attorney's office and were placed under arrest, photographed and fingerprinted. Koon, Powell and Wind posted $30,000 bond each. Briseno posted $5,000 bond.

King's attorneys, Steve Lerman and Robert Rentzer, were pleased with the indictments. Rentzer said he hoped the other officers involved would be punished. At least 11 other officers were reported to have been at the scene as King was shocked with a stun gun, clubbed and stomped.

A neighborhood resident captured the beating on videotape. Reiner said he asked FBI help in enhancing the tape, which was broadcast on news programs.

"The conduct of those officers on that scene that night is the most reprehensible thing that I've seen occur in this city. And I think that we are now on the road to bringing to justice those who committed the illegal acts," Mayor Tom Bradley told reporters Friday.

Shortly after the indictments were announced, the four officers appeared in a jammed courtroom where they stood and heard Superior Court Judge Gary Klausner read the charges against them.

Defense attorneys said they weren't prepared to enter pleas. Over a prosecutor's protest, the judge agreed to a postponement and scheduled a March 22 hearing.

The indictment charges all four with one count of assault with a deadly weapon by force likely to produce great bodily injury. Koon, Powell and Wind also were charged with inflicting great bodily injury.

If convicted, Koon and Powell could be sentenced to a maximum of seven years and eight months in state prison. Wind faces a possible seven-year maximum and Briseno a possible four-year term.

by CNB