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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 17, 1992                   TAG: 9203170161
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SIMI VALLEY, CALIF.                                LENGTH: Short

SERGEANT REPORTEDLY DIRECTED KING BEATING

A white police sergeant accused of beating a black motorist said an hour after the confrontation that he personally directed officers' baton blows, a watch commander testified Monday.

"He stated that he directed the officers as far as where to deliver their blows," said Lt. Patrick Conmay, who was in charge of the Foothill Division of the Los Angeles Police Department the night of the beating.

Testifying as the prosecution wound up its case against Sgt. Stacy Koon and three other police officers, Conmay also said Koon told him that motorist Rodney King's injuries were minor.

"Did Sergeant Koon tell you that the suspect was on the ground when he was hit with baton blows?" asked Deputy District Attorney Alan Yochelson.

"No, he did not," said Conmay, adding he assumed King was on his feet.

Earlier, jurors heard about a computer message written by Koon from his police car: "U [patrol unit] just had a big time use of force. Tased and beat the suspect of a CHP pursuit. Big time." "Tased" refers to the use of a Taser or electronic stun gun.

The response that came back in less than a minute was: "Oh well, I'm sure the lizard didn't deserve it. Ha. Ha."

Koon, 41, is charged with Officers Theodore Briseno, 39, Laurence Powell, 29, and Timothy Wind, 31 with using excessive force against King following a March 3, 1991, traffic stop in suburban Lake View Terrace. The beating was videotaped by an amateur cameraman and its broadcast nationwide sparked protests of police brutality.

by CNB