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CNN Live At Daybreak

Inglewood Police Officer Indicted on Assault Charge

Aired July 18, 2002 - 05:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: An Inglewood, California police officer has now been indicted on an assault charge in connection with the videotaped beating of the handcuffed teenager. And this morning there is a report from the "Los Angeles Times" that a second officer at the scene has also been indicted. That indictment is on a charge of filing a false police report.

Here's CNN's Eric Horng with the latest on the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eleven days after Officer Jeremy Morse was videotaped slamming an Inglewood teenager onto the hood of a patrol car and then punching him in the face, a Los Angeles grand jury indicted him on one count of assault under the color of authority.

JOHN BARNETT, ATTORNEY FOR JEREMY MORSE: It's not unexpected. He, of course, is disappointed. But this is a day I think we both knew would come.

HORNG: Morris, a three year veteran of the Inglewood Police Department, has alleged 16-year-old Donovan Jackson grabbed his crotch during the arrest, prompting the reaction seen in the now infamous videotape.

In Inglewood, where community members have staged almost daily rallies, news of the indictment spread quickly.

NAJEE ALI, DIRECTOR, PROJECT ISLAMIC HOPE: I'm excited. I believe that for him to be at least indicted, that's the first step on the path to justice.

HORNG: The incident, which took place at an Inglewood gas station July 6, prompted immediate investigations by three local law enforcement agencies, a civil rights probe by the FBI and a federal civil rights lawsuit. Morris, who's been suspended with pay, has yet to publicly comment on the incident. But friends and family members have come to his defense.

ROGER PETTIT, MORSE'S STEPFATHER: To see people talking about Jeremy as a racist, as a bigot, is so far from the truth it just makes me angry. HORNG: Morris is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Los Angeles. The assault charge carries a $10,000 fine and a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

Eric Horng, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: And one other note for you. The mother and stepfather of Officer Jeremy Morse are scheduled to be guests on CNN's "Connie Chung Tonight," which, of course, is at 8:00 Eastern time.

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