More Tape of Controversial Long Beach Arrest to Air
Additional portions of a controversial videotaped arrest in Long Beach are scheduled to be aired on a Sunday television interview show, which may help quell argument over release of the tapes.
The tape, to be shown on KNBC’s “News Conference” program, amplifies on the Jan. 14 incident in which two white police officers stopped two black men in an older car for allegedly weaving in the traffic lane. During an ensuing altercation, Officer Mark Dickey appears to ram one of the men, Don C. Jackson, through a plate-glass window.
Jackson is a Hawthorne police sergeant on leave who says he tries to expose police brutality by videotaping his encounters. Jackson, appearing as a guest on the program taped Friday, said the videotapes show that the officer smashed his head through the window and slammed him against the police cruiser.
But Michael Hannon, an attorney for the Long Beach Police Officers Assn., who also was a guest, disagreed with Jackson. He said the tapes show that Jackson interfered with Dickey as he questioned him. Hannon said Jackson tried to pull away from the officer during a pat-down search, breaking the storefront window.
Off-duty Long Beach police officers marched on NBC studios in Burbank recently to protest the network’s refusal to release unaired portions of tape. Hannon said he is now satisfied that all relevant portions have been seen, although Assistant Long Beach City Atty. Robert Shannon said he still plans to take the issue to court to obtain all the tapes from NBC.
About nine minutes of videotape, including portions previously seen, are scheduled to be shown on the hourlong program that airs at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Jackson pleaded not guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor charge arising from the incident of resisting or obstructing a police officer. Dickey has transferred to a detective job pending outcome of investigations by the Police Department, FBI and district attorney’s office.
The incident was videotaped from a hidden camera inside the car in which Jackson was a passenger and from two chase vehicles.
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