King Charged With 2 Counts in SUV Crash
Rialto police on Wednesday filed two misdemeanor charges against Rodney King, whose videotaped beating by police led to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. He was charged with reckless driving and being under the influence of drugs when he smashed his SUV into a San Bernardino home last month.
“He had a sufficient amount of PCP in his system to warrant the charges,” Police Sgt. Paul Wing said.
King, who lives in Rialto, is scheduled to be arraigned June 19. If convicted, he could face a two-year sentence and fines.
On April 13, a Rialto Police officer witnessed King driving about 100 mph on Pepper Avenue, Wing said. Before the officer began pursuit, King crashed his 2003 Ford Expedition through a fence and a tree, striking a San Bernardino home. King was hospitalized but not arrested.
Wing said police took a blood sample from King within one hour after his arrival at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. King suffered a broken pelvis, body trauma and multiple cuts and scratches in the crash.
Two years ago, King was sentenced to drug treatment for being under the influence of PCP and for indecent exposure.
The acquittal of four Los Angeles Police officers in the King case sparked the city’s 1992 riots.
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