Stanley Miller arrest controversy

The arrest of Stanley Miller by the LAPD in 2004 resulted in controversy over the amount of force used in the incident.citeweb|url=http://www.newsday.com/topic/sns-police,0,7529322.story?page=1|title=LAPD Chief ID's officers involved in beating|publisher=Newsweek|date=March 2008]

Incident

In 2004, pursuit suspect Stanley Miller was forcefully arrested by eight LAPD officers from the Southeast Division when officers saw him fleeing from officers in Compton. Officer John Hatfield was seen kicking and hitting Miller multiple times. Four of the officers faced disciplinary action and Officer Hatfield was eventually fired from the LAPD by Chief William J. Bratton.

Investigation

Stanley Miller was seen by LAFD EMTs. When asked if he hurt anywhere, Miller replied “No, I’m not hurt, just thirsty. Can I get adrink of water?” LAFD technicians continued to ask Miller if he was hurt to which he responded, “No, nothing hurts.” According to LAFD records, Miller did not have any visible injuries and his vital signs were stable. Miller declined LAFD’s offer to take him to a hospital for further medical treatment.

Numerous photographs were taken of Stanley Miller on June 23, 2004, and June 24, 2004, to document any injuries. In the June 23 photographs, there appears to be some redness on Miller’s triceps, upper left back, the bridge of his nose, and around his wrists. There are no visible bumps on Miller’s face or head. The June 24 photographs show thatthe redness in several areas developed into bruises. The right side of Miller’s right wrist has small, red abrasions where the skin has been broken. There is no bruising or redness on Miller’s face, nor are any bumps visible.

Video footage taken by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department at the County Jail shows Miller easily walking to different locations within the jail and doing everyday tasks. Miller had no problem taking off his shirt and appeared to have a full range of motion in both of his arms and shoulders. The only physical complaint of pain he made was whenhe was being handcuffed for transport to Chino State Prison on June 28, 2004.

Miller was seen by a number of medical professionals after his arrest and initial examination by LAFD personnel. On June 23, Miller was transported to White Memorial Hospital where shoulder x-rays were taken. Nasal x-rays were taken several days later. The x-rays revealed that Miller had no broken bones. According to hospital reports, the only visible injuries observed on Miller were the abrasions to Miller’s right wrist consistent with handcuffs being applied too tightly. Miller complained of pain to his right wrist and left shoulder but did not complain of any head injuries.

During the evening of June 23, a County Jail physician examined Miller who complained that his left shoulder was sore with limited mobility and that his nose and right wrist hurt. Again, Miller did not complain of any head injury or pain to his head other than the injury to his nose. The treating physician examined Miller’s nose and found it to be tender and swollen but with no bleeding inside the nose. He determined that Miller’sinjuries were not serious requiring over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol or Motrin only.

Due to complaints of dizziness while at Chino State Prison, Miller was transported to Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) on June 30, 2004. There, doctors performed a computed axial tomography (CAT) scan. The results were normal. On July 8, 2004, and July 22, 2004, Miller returned to RCRMC for auditory/brainstem evoked potentials test and an electroencephalogram. All tests were normal. The doctors atRCRMC advised Miller to take Tylenol or Motrin as needed. [Excerpts from CHARGE EVALUATION REPORT, LAPD OFFICER JOHN HATFIELD, Report 04-0620R, JUSTICE SYSTEM INTEGRITY DIVISION, STEVE COOLEY, District Attorney, February 3, 2005.]

Aftermath

No charges were filed against either Miller or the officers. The city of Los Angeles and Miller settled the resulting lawsuit, and he was given $450,000.

References