Sharpton urges U.S. probe of L.A. suburb's police

Sharpton

INGLEWOOD, California (CNN) -- The Rev. Al Sharpton urged the Justice Department on Monday to investigate a pattern of police brutality in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, where a recent videotape showed a police officer roughing up a handcuffed black teen-ager.

Sharpton also said he will organize a statewide petition drive urging California Gov. Gray Davis to grant clemency to the man who videotaped the July 6 altercation if there is no reduction in sentencing.

Sharpton, longtime civil rights activist Dick Gregory and Najee Ali, the executive director of Project Islamic Hope, spoke to reporters Monday about the Inglewood case.

The videotape, which was aired repeatedly on television nationwide, shows 16-year-old Donovan Jackson being thrown onto the trunk of a squad car and punched by Inglewood police Officer Jeremy Morse. Morse has been suspended with pay.

Police said the incident occurred after police and deputies pulled behind the car driven by Jackson's father, Coby Chavis, at a convenience store where he was pumping gas. They noticed Chavis had expired license plates and later discovered his driver's license was suspended.

But according to Chavis' attorney, officers questioned Chavis at the station for no reason and later began to beat Jackson. Father and son have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Mitchell Crooks, who videotaped the incident, was arrested Thursday on outstanding warrants that include drunken driving and petty theft. Sharpton said Crooks should be released from prison and allowed to go on with his life.

Sharpton said his efforts to generate support and awareness are not limited to the black community.

"Mr. Crooks himself is not a member of the African-American community," Sharpton said. "We are as adamant about supporting him as we are Donovan Jackson."

Sharpton said a letter is being sent to the Justice Department calling for an investigation of the Inglewood police.

"There have been several incidents reported to us about incidents that preceded the situation with Donovan Jackson that lead us to believe this warrants a pattern," he said.

Sharpton cited a newspaper report noting other cases in Inglewood in which no remedies have been made or charges have been brought.

Sharpton urged President Bush to look into police misconduct in Inglewood and throughout the country.

"Do we only hear from the White House when the communities respond with violence? Why can't we hear from the White House when communities around the country have acted responsibly and say we want justice? Thank God Inglewood did not burn, but in the absence of burning, do we get silence from the top?"

In addition, Ali said he is spearheading a 40-day prayer vigil to keep peace in the Inglewood community.