Seattle police to review tactics, officer's conduct after videotaped punch

Seattle police sought Tuesday to quickly address another videotaped incident, ordering a sweeping review into a jaywalking stop in which a white officer punched a 17-year-old African-American girl in the face after she shoved his shoulder.

By Steve Miletich and Jennifer Sullivan

Seattle Times staff reporters

Confronted by another incident caught on videotape, Seattle police have ordered a sweeping review into a jaywalking stop in which an officer punched a 17-year-old girl in the face after she shoved him.

Interim Police Chief John Diaz ordered the review of the department's training procedures after a videotape of the incident was repeatedly broadcast on Seattle television stations and media websites.

On the video, Officer Ian P. Walsh is seen punching the girl in the face after she tries to intervene in the arrest of a 19-year-old friend near Franklin High School on Monday afternoon. Police arrested the girl, Angel L. Rosenthal, and her friend, Marilyn Ellen Levias, both of whom have criminal records.

The department's response to the incident in Rainier Valley came as Mayor Mike McGinn is nearing a decision on a new permanent chief: either Diaz or East Palo Alto, Calif., Police Chief Ron Davis.

It also comes as the department is conducting a criminal investigation into the actions of two other officers who were caught on videotape April 17 kicking a prone Latino man, with one using ethnically inflammatory language.

Acting Deputy Chief Nick Metz, speaking at a hastily called news conference Tuesday morning, expressed concerns about Walsh's conduct, saying the department was "withholding judgment" pending a separate internal investigation into the officer's action by the department's civilian-led Office of Professional Accountability.

His comments represented a stark reversal of the department's preliminary statement Monday night, when a spokesman said Walsh had acted appropriately.

Walsh, 39, who joined the department in November 2006, has been temporarily placed in the department's training unit to allow him to review his tactics, Metz said.

Walsh's handling of the incident was backed by the head of the Seattle police union, who said the department's review is necessary but that the officer had been defending himself.

Metz said the review of training procedures is not meant as a criticism of the officer's actions, but would examine department tactics to see if they could be improved.

He said the review would examine not only the punch, but the entire situation surrounding the jaywalking stop.

Rosenthal and Levias are African American; Walsh is white.

James Kelly, chief executive officer of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, said Seattle police called him Monday to alert him to the incident.

Kelly, during a news conference Tuesday with African-American community leaders, called Walsh's punch an overreaction. "The provocation by this 17-year-old kid may have presented a confrontation situation, but the use of violence in the form of a full punch in the face was just plain wrong," he said in a statement.

"This is another case where we are standing here, saying, 'shame on you' to the Seattle police," he said, referring to the April 17 incident.

In that incident, also videotaped, two officers kicked and stomped a prone robbery suspect. One officer kicked the Latino man while he was lying on the sidewalk and shouted, "I'm going to beat the [expletive] Mexican piss out of you, homey. You feel me?" Officers later let the man go after realizing he was the wrong person.

Kelly said he wanted to be clear that what the 17-year-old girl had done Monday was wrong and that her actions "only helped escalate an already tense situation. ... I am making no excuses for her. But two wrongs don't make a right."

"Predictable" pattern

Jennifer Shaw, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, said in a written statement that Monday's incident wasn't an isolated one.

"The SPD has a long history of allowing jaywalking citations to escalate into use-of-force situations," Shaw said. "The pattern is very predictable: The officer sees a jaywalker, orders the person to come to him, gets angry when the jaywalker either doesn't respond or argues, and ends up either in a physical confrontation or an arrest for an obstruction charge or both."

The incident occurred about 3 p.m. Monday near Franklin High, where staff and the school district's central office had requested increased police monitoring because they were concerned about the number of students jaywalking.

According to police, Walsh, working in a patrol car, saw several people jaywalking on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, just south of Rainier Avenue South, despite a nearby pedestrian overpass.

Walsh tried to stop a group of females when one woman, later identified as Levias, began walking away, according to an incident report.

Walsh told Levias she must identify herself so he could issue her a citation or she would face arrest for obstruction, the report said. Levias continued to walk away, prompting Walsh to grab her upper arm with his right hand, the report said.

At that point, Levias said something like "get the [expletive] off me," tensed her body and began to resist, the report said.

Walsh placed her upper body on the hood of his patrol car in trying to handcuff her. Levias began twisting around and pulled away, ignoring Walsh's command to stop resisting as she continued to struggle with him.

While Walsh tried to handcuff Levias, Rosenthal, the 17-year-old, approached Walsh, grabbing and pushing him. Walsh responded by punching Rosenthal.

Levias was arrested for allegedly obstructing an officer, a gross misdemeanor. Rosenthal was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault on an officer, a felony.

During the incident, a hostile crowd of onlookers gathered and appeared to be cheering Levias and Rosenthal, the police report said.

Neither Levias nor Rosenthal is a student at Franklin. There is no record that Rosenthal ever attended Seattle Public Schools, a district spokeswoman said. Levias is a graduate of the district's Interagency Academy, an alternative program, according to the district. She received her diploma in February.

Sgt. Rich O'Neill, president of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild, said on Tuesday that the officer acted properly in the face of resistance and the push.

"The officer had every right to defend himself and use force," O'Neill said. "I didn't see anything that was wrong."

Nonetheless, O'Neill said the department's command staff was correctly handling the situation. "They had to send it out for review," O'Neill said. "These are the times we live in."

Rosenthal appeared Tuesday in King County Juvenile Court, where supporters said that she lives at the Virginia Miller House, a residential facility with behavior-modification programs for teen girls, but was in contact with her family. It's unclear why the girl is not living with her family.

King County Superior Court pro-tem Judge Ann Danieli found that Seattle police had probable cause to arrest Rosenthal for investigation of third-degree assault and obstruction. However, the judge agreed with the girl's defense attorney that she should be released.

Marilyn Jamerson, Rosenthal's aunt, spoke after the hearing in support of the girl.

"She's perfect; that's why we call her Angel," Jamerson said. "She was named Angel for a reason."

The teen was ordered back to court on Friday. Charges are expected to be filed by Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Levias was released on her personal recognizance Monday and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Seattle Municipal Court.

Previous arrests

Rosenthal was charged in November with second-degree robbery. According to prosecutors, she punched a 15-year-old boy in the face while she and a group of youths were on their way to a rave in South Seattle last Aug. 28. The boy told police that his cellphone and $20 were stolen in the incident. A 14-year-old boy told police that he was punched in the head and his hat was stolen.

Authorities say the case was dismissed when the boys refused to testify.

In April 2008, Rosenthal was charged with third-degree theft after she allegedly stole a minivan in Tukwila, prosecutors said. Kent police said she used a screwdriver to break the ignition and start the vehicle.

The charge was later amended to theft of a motor vehicle. Rosenthal was given a deferred disposition — charges would be dropped if she stayed out of trouble — because it was a first-time offense, said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff for Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg.

Levias was charged in February 2009 with third-degree assault after she allegedly pushed a King County sheriff's deputy down.

According to charging documents, on Feb. 3, 2009, deputies were called to the Ruth Dykeman Children's Center, a Burien center for troubled girls, in response to a report that Levias was being abusive toward staff. When Levias was confronted by Deputy Amy Zarelli, she pushed the female deputy, causing her to fall, charging papers said.

Levias was given a deferred disposition because it was a first-time offense, Goodhew said.

Seattle Times reporters Janet Tu, Craig Welch and Linda Shaw and news researcher Miyoko Wolf contributed to this story.

can someone PLEASE explain to me ANY reasonable reason why you SHOULD lay hands on an Officer of the Law???

or...

Why did she get involved??

or...

who the hell talks like that in public???

IDOANGEDDIT!!!!

do not fight the cops.

http://www.sableverity.co...ches-girl/

You may have already seen the latest video to come out of Seattle which captures an incident between a Seattle Police Officer and two black girls, 19-year old Marilyn Ellen Levias and 17-year-old Angel Rosenthal.

The video shows the officer deliver a punch to the face of 17 year old Angel Rosenthal. The kneejerk reaction has been one of outrage. Many have expressed alarm at the officer’s actions, describing them as “a violent outburst.”

But there is something else going on in that video which many local, outspoken members of the “Black community” have not addressed: the action of the girls involved.

The incident began simple enough. An officer stopped a group of girls for jaywalking near a local high school. In response, the girls became belligerent; raised voices, disrespect- and attempted to leave the scene.

At one point, Rosenthal repeatedly pushes the police officer. He pulls back his fist, aims, and delivers a single punch to her face. Of course, cameras were rolling. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

Many say it is a clear case of police brutality, or excessive force. They say the officer is a danger to the community and should be fired. They say nothing of the behavior of the girl in question.

People have attacked the validity of jaywalking citations. Others have accused the officer of using jaywalking as a means to harass “innocent Black kids”. Some have said what Rosenthal and her friend did pales in comparison to what the officer did in response. Still others have said “what did you expect her to do, listen to how he was talking to them!”

The local NAACP held a joint press conference with other “leaders”, condemning the officer and the entire department. As is customary when something like this happens, they asked the (acting) Chief to step down.

Jaywalking citations may very well be nonsense, and Black folks may very well disproportionately receive this ticket. It’s even fair to say that police officers “may” use the jay walking citation to harass people. What is not fair is to presume we know the intent or motivation of the officer was anything more than trying to address a group who’d just broken the law. We can’t assume he wanted to harass them.

Either way, none of that begins to change or excuse what has been downright ignored by most- the behavior of the girls involved. The video does not lie. One girl can be seen trying to push the officer’s hand away from her over and over. Both girls’ mouths are running a mile a minute. A crowd quickly gathers. They are interfering with the officer and attempting to leave the scene. As if all those things were not bad enough- both girls forcefully put their hands on the officer.

Let me stop here and offer this disclaimer. I know what it’s like to be hassled by cops, even grabbed physically, been called out of my name and cursed at. I’ve been present when others experience the same thing, whether friends or strangers. Being hassled, being grabbed, being spoken to in a disrespectful tone, or witnessing others go through those things, has never made me consider for one single second, putting my hands on an officer. Never.

Even if the officer was in the wrong, the time to win that battle isn’t in the moment.

If we’re going to assess the video, then let’s at least be fair to both sides. Instead of bending it’s contents to fit a predetermined position.

Yes, the officer punched the girl. No, it was not a random act of violence against her. It’s well documented that punching is a tactic used to gain or regain control over another person who is out of control. These two girls were out of control. They could have had a weapon. They could have grabbed his weapon. The crowd of onlookers could have jumped in to beat down the officer- take note that he is alone and outnumbered.

Even after the punch was given, the struggle continues. One girl comes up behind him and grabs him, trying to get him away from the other. It takes more than a full minute before he begins to actually regain control of the two sass mouths who are physically attacking him.

Was the punch unfortunate? Yes.

Could it have been avoided? Of course. Both of those girls could have complied with the officer. They could have kept their mouths shut and their hands to themselves. They didn’t do that. Instead they escalated the matter by putting hands on a police officer. They were arrested and taken to jail.

As they should have been.

Rosenthal and her friend were completely in the wrong, from beginning to end. If you want to smack talk a police officer you better be prepared for whatever he dishes back. If you want to touch a police officer- you best pray you don’t get yourself or any of your friends shot.

I would be horrified if I saw a video of my child behaving that way towards a cop. It’s reckless, hell, it’s dangerous. But she didn’t care about that- didn’t even pause to consider it.

Whether you agree with the laws or not, jay walking is illegal. They broke the law. I feel like Bill Cosby, about to give the infamous “poundcake” rant.

A little context for the location of where this took place. Franklin High School is just to the east of where this incident happened. Many students have to cross two major roads; MLK and Rainier Avenue. There is an elevated pedestrian bridge that spans both streets. Many students and youths who live in the area don’t bother to use the bridge. They instead, walk into moving traffic. I can say this with all certainty because I used to live about 50 yards from where the video was taken. I drive by there on a regular basis. I’ve had to slam on my breaks countless time because large groups of very rude teenagers mob into the street and glare at drivers, expecting us to stop. It’s a long-standing constant issue for that area. So while folks may say jay walking citations are “silly” in this case, they aren’t.

Not only did Rosenthal and her friend break the law once, they broke the law again when they set a single finger on that cop- let alone hands. That is unacceptable. There is nothing that can make it acceptable. They should have known the outcome would not be favorable- that’s what a person of reasonable intelligence would think. Making the choice to shove a cop is like choosing to walk into your kitchen right now, turn on the front eye of the stove top to “high”, wait till it gets hell-red and then slam your open hand down on it. Your brain won’t let you do that to yourself because it’s hardwired for self preservation. These girls are void of reasonable intelligence.

We need to keep it real with ourselves and each other, as a people. We can not go around excusing bad behavior because of (insert random justification here).

It’s not about what the cop did. It’s not about institutionalized racism in law enforcement. Nothing excuses or justifies their behavior. You don’t go around fighting with police officers, and for those who seek to excuse these girls, you’re doing them a disservice in life, sending the message that they have a right to behave in that fashion and not expect some sort of consequence.

When I watch the video, I don’t see two girls defending themselves from an overzealous cop. Instead, I see two flagrantly disrespectful girls who probably talk to their parents, to teachers, to strangers, the same way they spoke to and dealt with the officer in the video. I see two girls who come from a mentality that says they have the right to disregard authority, that they have the right to disrespect anyone for any reason. I see belligerent anger out of control. I see bullies.

It’s embarrassing and a huge part of our problem as a people. Of course law enforcement has institutional problems that need to be dealt with.

And so do our youth and their behaviors. Let’s not reduce this to a false dichotomy of one or the other. It’s both at the same time, and in this case, it’s not about the cop- it’s about the girls.

Is it fun to see a young woman clocked in the face? No. But she is LUCKY he didn’t shoot her foolish ass.

[Edited 6/16/10 20:38pm]

Wow the cop must be real proud of himself for punching a defenseless

teenage girl in the face.

Can't feel bad for her. If you resist arrest like her friend did and in this girl's case put your hands on a policeman you deserve to get hit. She made it a physical confrontation.

Normally I would say only use the amount of force necessary but the cop had tried that with the other girl and since that didn't work and this other girl-- who was as big as him mind you-- jumped in he probably figured he had to use more force.

I guess cops are only allowed to use harsh words.

All this for jaywalking.

Take a bow police officer. You must feel like a real man.

I wonder if the people here defending this shit would feel

the same if it was their mother or sister this was happening too.

phunkdaddy said:

All this for jaywalking.

Take a bow police officer. You must feel like a real man.

I wonder if the people here defending this shit would feel

the same if it was their mother or sister this was happening too.

The punch was for grabbing the cop. My mom and sister would have more sense than to put their hands on a cop. So there would be nothing to defend.

whodknee said:

phunkdaddy said:

All this for jaywalking.

Take a bow police officer. You must feel like a real man.

I wonder if the people here defending this shit would feel

the same if it was their mother or sister this was happening too.

The punch was for grabbing the cop. My mom and sister would have more sense than to put their hands on a cop. So there would be nothing to defend.

Have you actually watched the video. The girl was defending her friend because the cop

was yanking her friend's arm like she was some kind of animal. At first she was trying

to help her friend pull away from the cop but got emotional and shoved the cop which

was a mistake but he had no right to punch her in the face. That was a straight coward move

over fucking jaywalking. Get the fuck outta here. This isn't a situation where he punched

an unruly teenage boy in the face.

I'm actually glad there was people there watching to get this shit on

camera. You know if no one else were there watcing this coward ass

cop would havd done more. You could actually here one guy in the

background saying Are you Serious over and over. The rest of the

crowd was very civil. Why did the cop have to grab the girl by the

neck and shit? I hope these girls parents sue the shit out of this cop

and the chief for defending this shit.

fuck the police

Oh please... what did she think was going to happen interferring like that? Even her boyfriend had the good sense to try to hold her back. Her getting hit (ONE TIME) for it is completely justified - she assaulted him FIRST, he did what was needed to maintain control of the situation.

For all those who say "fuck the police", keep that statement in mind if you're ever in need of them and forget dialing 9-1-1, just suck it up and deal by yourselves BIOTCHES!

she deserved it.

Again, here is another case of police using the law to their own liking.

A few questions....

1. Where was backup?

2. If backup was called, he should specified a female officer.

3. Instead of being punched, why wasn't she maced.

4. Finally, all this for Jaywalking?

The officer's life was not in danger, that so-called "shove", did not seem to hurt the officer. To many cops are being trained for confrontation, instead of assessing the situation first. All this was for jaywalking....

SavonOsco said:

Jaywalking?... They still enforce that? Where I live only a female officer can touch females..anywayz he was wrong...the two girls were wrong because of their actions,get the citation and keep it moving.. I love the Aunt saying we named her Angel for a reason..please she already had a rap sheet at 17... Just a whole bunch of wrong going on here....

If Jaywalking is a problm then it ought to be enforced.

As far as only female officers can touch females that is most likely not ture. It may be a best practice when it comes to a search but I highly doubt it is a matter of law or regulation.

Now the girls were wrong at least twice, they both jaywalked and then they both resisted. I assume that the girls were getting physical with the officer before tape even started to roll. However, it was not the officers best choice of actions. I would say he over reacted.

shorttrini said:

Again, here is another case of police using the law to their own liking.

A few questions....

1. Where was backup?

Back up is not instant

2. If backup was called, he should specified a female officer.

what makes you think it was necessary.

3. Instead of being punched, why wasn't she maced.

then there would be 10 people that were hurt.

4. Finally, all this for Jaywalking?

yeah, the dumb girls should have just accepted the ticket and gone on down the road

The officer's life was not in danger, that so-called "shove", did not seem to hurt the officer. To many cops are being trained for confrontation, instead of assessing the situation first. All this was for jaywalking....

I agree he seemed to overreact.

shorttrini said:

Again, here is another case of police using the law to their own liking.

A few questions....

1. Where was backup?

2. If backup was called, he should specified a female officer.

3. Instead of being punched, why wasn't she maced.

4. Finally, all this for Jaywalking?

The officer's life was not in danger, that so-called "shove", did not seem to hurt the officer. To many cops are being trained for confrontation, instead of assessing the situation first. All this was for jaywalking....

1. Exactly. A veteran law enforcer knows damn good and well not to allow themselves to be outnumbered. He/she is already suppose to call for back-up.

2. A female officer would have been better idea altogether.

3. Mace would have made the situation worse. Ideas #1 & #2 were the best options.

4. Jaywalking is more of a big deal on the west coast than everywhere else in the USA. Walking or running in the middle of the streets/roads while cars are coming faster than 20 MPH is consider not safe.

whatever.

the beating in the jail, I understand the outrage.

But the punch in the face? Whatever again. I'm not saying you won't get punched in the face anyway, cause a lot of cops are dicks, but still..........one way to MAKE SURE you get fucked up by a cop is to assault him.

I don't think the punch to the face should be scrutinized. The handling in the jail though, that seemed excessive IMO.

phunkdaddy said:

All this for jaywalking.

Take a bow police officer. You must feel like a real man.

I wonder if the people here defending this shit would feel

the same if it was their mother or sister this was happening too.

I understand the anger at why the stop happened, I do. But she assaulted a police officer in the middle of him taking another person into custody.

If my mother, daughter, or anyone I knew did the same, I'd be angry that they were so stupid to shove a cop and then be surprised at what happened.

phunkdaddy said:

whodknee said:

The punch was for grabbing the cop. My mom and sister would have more sense than to put their hands on a cop. So there would be nothing to defend.

Have you actually watched the video. The girl was defending her friend because the cop

was yanking her friend's arm like she was some kind of animal. At first she was trying

to help her friend pull away from the cop but got emotional and shoved the cop which

was a mistake but he had no right to punch her in the face. That was a straight coward move

over fucking jaywalking. Get the fuck outta here. This isn't a situation where he punched

an unruly teenage boy in the face.

Guess what? Don't do that. That's what ends up getting you punched in the face and arrested.

Just because you're right doesn't mean you can do whatever you want and not have bad consequences.

JerseyKRS said:

phunkdaddy said:

Have you actually watched the video. The girl was defending her friend because the cop

was yanking her friend's arm like she was some kind of animal. At first she was trying

to help her friend pull away from the cop but got emotional and shoved the cop which

was a mistake but he had no right to punch her in the face. That was a straight coward move

over fucking jaywalking. Get the fuck outta here. This isn't a situation where he punched

an unruly teenage boy in the face.

Guess what? Don't do that. That's what ends up getting you punched in the face and arrested.

Just because you're right doesn't mean you can do whatever you want and not have bad consequences.

People only want Police around and doing their jobs when it serves a purpose for them.... If your being unruly and disrespecting the law, be prepared for the consequences...

phunkdaddy said:

Wow the cop must be real proud of himself for punching a defenseless

teenage girl in the face.

No, man. She was dead wrong for putting her hands on an officer of the law. She was rowdy and resisting arrest. That in itself is a crime. I have no compassion for those girls. So the officer should have just let her go? Hell no! Take her ass to jail! Rowdy ass kids need to be controlled. If they get out of line and shove and push an officer, they are breaking the law. Period. What would you do if you were trying to defend yourself? Gettron got what she deserved.

She shouldn't have resisted.

The cop was way over the line but what right thinking person, ESPECIALLY a so called minority would resist arrest or in any way should aggression toward a cop? It is DUMB in every way because u are NOT going 2 win that showdown.

WAKE up folks..............

Graycap23 said:

The cop was way over the line but what right thinking person, ESPECIALLY a so called minority would resist arrest or in any way should aggression toward a cop? It is DUMB in every way because u are NOT going 2 win that showdown.

WAKE up folks..............

I totally agree with this post.

JerseyKRS said:

Graycap23 said:

The cop was way over the line but what right thinking person, ESPECIALLY a so called minority would resist arrest or in any way should aggression toward a cop? It is DUMB in every way because u are NOT going 2 win that showdown.

WAKE up folks..............

I totally agree with this post.

Co-sign