Legal News

Critics of LA police wanna be startin' somethin'

By Richard Binder

The Los Angeles police are under scrutiny for their actions following the death of Michael Jackson.  While the police say proper procedures were followed based on the circumstances officers encountered when they were called to the home, others are saying it should have been assumed a crime may have been committed and appropriate precautions taken. 

"If I was the chief detective on the case, I would have said, 'We don't know what's going on. We should seal the scene,'" said defense attorney Harland Braun, who has represented celebrities including Robert Blake, Roseanne and Gary Busey. "You always have to think of the worst-case scenario and you have to think fast. I would have sealed the scene just because it was Michael Jackson."

Vernon J. Geberth, former commanding officer of the Bronx Homicide Task force in New York, said that while the police should have known they were dealing with an extraordinary situation, the presence of a doctor made a difference. "It was not a homicide scene. It was an emergency medical scene."

The LAPD has not opened any review of its handling of the case, according to the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents rank-and-file LAPD officers.

Click here for the full story.

Also, the attorney general is getting involved.  More here.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on July 06, 2009 (boomark / email).