Alleged police abuse victim Ron Weekley Jr. revealed more devastating details Tuesday about the violent arrest that was captured on camera over the weekend.
In a news conference, 20-year-old Weekley broke down in tears as he described the police's violent tactics. Los Angeles Times has the details:
“I was opening the door to my apartment when I was attacked from behind. They grabbed my hair and my back and tried to smash my face into the ground,” he said. “I started screaming and yelling because I thought I was going to die.”
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"The next thing I remember was being in the back of the car, asking 'Why me? Why did I get stopped?'" Weekley said. He said the officer called him a "dumb ass" and said he didn't stop at the stop sign.
The college student, who attends Xavier University in Louisiana, has hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump to represent him. Crump also represents the family of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin, who was allegedly shot by a volunteer watchman while walking around in his own neighborhood.
Crump also spoke out during the press conference, questioning why Weekley, who is accused of skateboarding on the wrong side of the street, was even detained by the police in the first place.
“Was he stopped because he was on the wrong side of the road, or was he attacked because he was the wrong color?” asked Crump.
LAPD spokesman Cmdr. Andrew Smith told ABC-7 that the video filmed by bystanders shows only the last part of the arrest, not the part when Weekley allegedly used force against officers. Cmdr. Smith also said that police discovered Weekley has three outstanding misdemeanor warrants when he was arrested Saturday.
Crump acknowledged the warrants, but said they were for infractions like curfew violations and driving without a license. He also revealed plans to take legal action against the LAPD on behalf of Weekley.
Weekley was arrested and held down by several officers outside his home in Venice, Calif. Saturday evening. Bystanders captured the violent encounter on a cellphone camera, and footage has been picked up by nationwide news outlets.
Watch the entire orginal video. Warning: NSFW language
The community has planned a rally in support of Weekley near the site of the arrest at 4 p.m. Organizer Najee Ali, executive director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E., told the Times, “Racial profiling is real ... We want to make it clear that we will not accept that."
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