Laurence Powell
Encyclopedia
Laurence Michael Powell is a former Los Angeles Police
officer. He was one of the four officers involved in the beating of Rodney King
on March 3, 1991.
. He enrolled in the police academy and finished near the top of his class.
, Officer Theodore Briseno, and Officer Timothy Wind were videotaped repeatedly striking Rodney King
with their police batons in Lake View Terrace. Officer Powell was partnered with Officer Wind at the time.
The Los Angeles District Attorney charged the four officers with assault with a deadly weapon and use of excessive force. A year later, after a change of venue from Los Angeles to Ventura
County, a jury of ten whites, one Asian and one Hispanic, acquitted the four officers of the assault charge, but deadlocked
on the excessive force charge for Powell. The verdict led to the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
.
The four officers were later indicted on federal charges for violating Rodney King
's civil rights. Powell and Koon were convicted and were sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Los Angeles Police
Law enforcement in Los Angeles County is conducted by a variety of law enforcement agencies.-County agencies:*Los Angeles County Coroner's Office*Los Angeles County Probation Department*Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department...
officer. He was one of the four officers involved in the beating of Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
on March 3, 1991.
Background
Powell graduated from Crescenta Valley High SchoolCrescenta Valley High School
Crescenta Valley High School is a secondary school located at 2900 Community Avenue in La Crescenta-Montrose, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The school is a part of the Glendale Unified School District....
. He enrolled in the police academy and finished near the top of his class.
Rodney King incident and trial
On March 3, 1991, Powell and three other officers, Sgt. Stacey KoonStacey Koon
Stacey Cornell Koon is a former sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department who became nationally notorious in the wake of the Rodney King incident...
, Officer Theodore Briseno, and Officer Timothy Wind were videotaped repeatedly striking Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
with their police batons in Lake View Terrace. Officer Powell was partnered with Officer Wind at the time.
The Los Angeles District Attorney charged the four officers with assault with a deadly weapon and use of excessive force. A year later, after a change of venue from Los Angeles to Ventura
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
County, a jury of ten whites, one Asian and one Hispanic, acquitted the four officers of the assault charge, but deadlocked
Hung jury
A hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
on the excessive force charge for Powell. The verdict led to the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
1992 Los Angeles riots
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots or South Central Riots, also known as the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest were sparked on April 29, 1992, when a jury acquitted three white and one hispanic Los Angeles Police Department officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King following a...
.
The four officers were later indicted on federal charges for violating Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
's civil rights. Powell and Koon were convicted and were sentenced to 30 months in prison.