26 Youths Sue Officers, City Over Park Incident
Lawyers for 26 black and Latino youths who contend that Los Angeles police officers earlier this year physically and verbally abused them for nearly two hours at a state park in Pacific Palisades on Monday filed a $5.2-million federal civil rights lawsuit against the officers and the city.
The suit seeks $2.6 million in general damages and an equal amount in punitive damages. It names as defendants the city, three officers and two unnamed park rangers who allegedly looked on as the officers forced the youths at gunpoint to lie face down on the ground for interrogation. The incident, which allegedly occurred Feb. 12 at Will Rogers State Historic Park, was racially motivated, said Carol Watson, an attorney for the plaintiffs.
Police officials have said that an internal investigation is under way in connection with the incident. LAPD representatives would not comment Monday on the incident or the suit.
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