Fullerton Police Vow Abuse Claim Inquiry

Fullerton police officials said Wednesday they will launch an internal investigation into the claims of mistreatment made by a 32-year-old man who was arrested as a suspected cop killer and then later released.

Sgt. Glenn Deveny, a department spokesman, said each of Young Ho Choi’s complaints will be fully investigated, including his claims that officers roughed him up, infringed on his right to contact an attorney, refused to let him use the bathroom and made menacing threats.

“This will be looked into,” Deveny told reporters gathered at the Fullerton department for the announcement that a second suspect, 25-year-old Hung Thanh Mai, had been arrested in Texas on suspicion of killing California Highway Patrol Officer Don Burt.

In interviews Tuesday and Wednesday, the 32-year-old Choi said four Fullerton officers wrestled him to the ground and held him down for a blood test after he resisted. The former suspect said another police officer allegedly mimicked a gun with a pointed finger, aimed it at Choi, and said “Cop killer, boom!”

“We’re not denying these things happened,” Deveny said, adding that Choi’s allegations “will be investigated.”

Deveny conceded “there was a delay” in granting Choi’s request that he be allowed to make a phone call. “At our first knowledge that he had not been able to make that call, we got him to a phone.”

Choi, a Korea native who has been a U.S. resident since he was 17, added that he thought he was a victim of discrimination “because of my race.”

Deveny said crowded weekend conditions in the department’s processing of prisoners might have delayed Choi’s bathroom visits and his ability to make a phone call. Also, Choi was isolated because of the magnitude of the crime for which he was suspected, which might have lengthened delays.

Deveny, flanked by the investigators on the case and Police Chief Patrick E. McKinley, said heavy traffic through the booking area and a limited number of jailers sometimes prevents the department from quickly catering to the needs of inmates.

“There are drains on the floor,” Deveny said. “It’s common for people to urinate on the floor.”

Deveny also said that it was “acceptable under policy” to hold a resisting inmate down for a blood test. As for the other claims made by Choi, Deveny said the department would have no comment until the actions of officers were examined by internal investigators.

Deveny gave little credence to the discrimination contention, though, saying that the department works closely with local residents of Asian heritage and has a good track record on such matters.

“We do not experience this problem,” he said.

Choi, most recently a resident of Buena Park, was arrested Saturday as he walked near Lincoln Avenue and Euclid Street in Anaheim. Police have said several witnesses to the slaying of Burt later identified Choi as the killer. He was released Monday, however, after police said they concluded he had no connection to the crime.

At a packed Koreatown news conference Wednesday, community leaders criticized Fullerton authorities in the handling of Choi’s arrest and detention. They also questioned the wisdom of releasing the ethnicity of a suspect--a routine procedure, particularly in high-profile crimes.

“The Korean American community has been hurt by this incident,” said Charles J. Kim, president of the Korean American Coalition. “A collective image of our community has been damaged.”

Kim charged that the disclosure of Choi’s ethnicity sent a painful chill through the Korean American community in Southern California. He said police need to be more sensitive to the consequences of their actions and how damaging they can be.

“Korean Americans feel a collective responsibility when one of our own gets into trouble with the law,” Kim said.

In-Ha Cho, president of the Korean Federation of Los Angeles, the largest Korean community organization here, said local ethnic communities need to unite and pay heed to the issues raised by Choi’s claims.

“We don’t know when or where we can become another Young Ho Choi,” Cho said.

Wearing a sport jacket, and looking far more composed than he did on Tuesday, Choi said he wanted to return to his work in Palm Springs as soon as possible.

“I am so tired,” he said, referring to the press queries. “I didn’t know this was such a big incident.”

Attorney William P. Min, who is donating his services to assist Choi handle media relations, said Choi has no immediate plans to seek any civil action against police. “We are continuing to examine what happened,” Min said.

Choi said his heart goes out to the family of the slain CHP officer.

He said he had wanted to deliver a wreath and give his condolences to the officer’s family on Tuesday, and then return to his job in Palm Springs. But his plans changed after Korean Federation officers were told they should come instead to the funeral.

Asked if he had any feelings on how the officer’s killer should be punished, Choi answered: “That belongs to God. That’s something God decides.”