Suspects Arrested in Denny Beating

After reading the coverage of the four arrests made by the Los Angeles Police Department in the case of the Denny beating, I felt obliged to clarify the matter of the fourth arrest. Gary Williams did not simply “turn himself in.” His arrest was the result of a number of phone calls between go-betweens and Detective Bill Jessup of the 77th Street Division. It was only after Jessup assured Williams’ friends that he would take personal responsibility, would assure him that there would be no disrespect or violence involved, no SWAT teams and no press that Williams agreed to surrender to him.

Upon arrival at the police station, Williams was reluctant to leave his car when he saw the number of police and television cameras outside of the station. Jessup left the station, unarmed, and escorted Williams, without handcuffs, past the oblivious press and safely into the station where he was properly arrested. Williams and his friends expressed their gratitude to Jessup and reiterated that without his word of fair conduct, Williams would not have surrendered. While I am hardly an impartial judge in this matter, I do feel that it should be pointed out to the citizens of South-Central Los Angeles and others who may be in Williams’ position that there are many forms of policing and making arrests.

LYN RAPHAEL-JESSUP

Los Angeles