PressEthic

Newspapers and wire services across the country picked up what would otherwise likely have been a local story.

Of course, many draw connections to the infamous Rodney King beating by police in 1991 that was captured on tape by an eyewitness and prompted national outrage. Of course the King case was burned forever into our national psyche when the acquittal of the police officers sparked riots that brought National Guard tanks onto the streets of LA.

An interesting distinction with this new video is that it wasn't simply a tape, but digital video that was posted on the internet, making it immediately accessible worldwide.

The video still up on YouTube. It is also available at Copwatch LA.

Los Angeles Times reporters obtained a copy of the original arrest report and compared it to the video, noting serious discrepancies.

The report, obtained by The Times on Friday, says that Officer Patrick Farrell punched William Cardenas twice because he resisted arrest. The video of the Aug. 11 arrest shows Farrell striking him at least six times in the face.

The video also seems to contradict the justification that Farrell and Officer Alexander Schlegel gave in the report for striking Cardenas. According to the arrest report, Schlegel said Farrell struck Cardenas after "the suspect continued to grab at my [Schlegel's] belt and waist."

But the 19-second video shows that Cardenas' hands are not near Schlegel's waist or belt either before or after Farrell strikes him.

This is citizen journalism at work again, combined with some basic sleuthing by the LA Times, bringing to light a story that would have passed unnoticed except by neighborhood watchdog.