Koon Directed Baton Blows, Jurors Told : Trial: Watch commander says sergeant told him he gave orders on where to deliver strikes during King beating. Motorist’s injuries were described to him as minor, lieutenant says.

A white police sergeant accused of beating a black motorist said an hour after the confrontation that he personally directed officers’ baton blows, a watch commander testified Monday.

“He stated that he directed the officers as far as where to deliver their blows,” said Lt. Patrick Conmay, in charge of the Foothill Division of the Los Angeles Police Department the night of the beating.

Testifying as the prosecution wound up its case against Sgt. Stacey C. Koon and three other police officers, Conmay also said Koon told him that motorist Rodney G. King’s injuries were minor.

“Did Sgt. Koon tell you that the suspect was on the ground when he was hit with baton blows?” asked Deputy Dist. Atty. Alan Yochelson.

“No, he did not,” said Conmay, adding that he assumed King was on his feet.

“Sgt. Koon told me there was a combative, aggressive, violent suspect, and these activities occurred as this person was resisting and being aggressive,” Conmay said.

Earlier, jurors heard about a computer message written by Koon from his police car.

Koon’s message read: “U (his patrol unit) just had a big time use of force. Tased and beat the suspect of a CHP pursuit. Big time.” “Tased” refers to the use of a Taser or electronic stun gun.

The response that came back in less than a minute was: “Oh well, I’m sure the lizard didn’t deserve it. Ha. Ha.”

Koon, 41, along with Officers Theodore J. Briseno, 39, Laurence M. Powell, 29, and Timothy E. Wind, 31, is charged with using excessive force against King after a March 3, 1991, traffic stop in suburban Lake View Terrace.

The beating was videotaped by an amateur cameraman, and its broadcast nationwide sparked protests of police brutality.

Conmay, the highest-ranking officer to testify, said Koon told him he had shot the suspect with a stun gun, which seemed to have no effect. The baton blows that followed also were ineffective, Conmay said, quoting Koon.

Koon said he believed the suspect was high on PCP, Conmay told the court. Medical personnel have said there was no evidence of PCP use.

Previously, Koon was identified as the person who fired the stun gun and ultimately ordered the beating stopped, not as the director of the beating. Until Monday, prosecutors aimed most of their evidence against Powell, who is accused of repeatedly striking King in the head.

Koon reported to Conmay that King’s injuries were minor and mentioned a split lip suffered when King fell to the pavement, the watch commander said.

Medical witnesses testified that King suffered multiple cuts to the head, a broken leg and a broken facial bone. A state highway patrol officer said King was covered in blood after the beating.

King has not appeared at the trial. A prosecution spokeswoman declined to say whether he will be called as a witness.