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Rodney King Research Paper

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On March 2, 1991 Rodney King and two of his friends sat in the car in Altadena, California drinking malt liquor for many hours before deciding to take a drive. California Highway Patrol officers spotted King driving at a high speed estimated to be above 100 m.p.h. With lights and sirens on the officers began to follow King. They ordered him to pull over via the loudspeaker, but King did not follow the order and continued to drive. After King did not pull over, the officers called for help. The units of the Los Angeles Police Department joined in the pursuit. Petitioner Laurence Powell and his trainee, Timothy Wind were two officers that joined the pursuit. King finally left the highway after being chased for about eight miles. He stopped at the entrance of a recreation area. The officers ordered King and his passengers to get out of the car and lie on the floor with their hands behind their back. The two passengers followed the order, but King wasn’t as cooperative. Officers Stacey Koon, Ted Briseno and Roland Solano all began to approach King. Koon is a sergeant, so he naturally took charge. The officers ordered King to assume the felony prone position for the second time. King dropped to his hands and knees, but would not get in felony prone position. King resisted and started to fight back, so the officers took steps back and fired taser darts. The next part to occur was recorded by a bystander. The video first shows King rising from the ground and charging toward officer

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