When a person is brutally beaten by a police officer, should the amount of public outrage depend on the victim's race?

Shouldn't attempts to conceal evidence and hide witnesses spark public concern regardless of the race of the victim?

That doesn't appear to be the case in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, CA -- November 13, 2007 -- On May 26, 2006 a white male by the name of Steven Mock was waiting for the bus at his local bus terminal in Los Angeles. African American Officer, Deputy Carl Smith, cited Mr. Mock for being intoxicated in public while unfit to care for himself and for resisting arrest.

According to the report filed by Officer Smith, Mr. Mock argued about being placed in custody which led Officer Smith to employ “control gaining” methods.  These included kicking Mr. Mock in the face, fracturing his mandible, jamming several teeth into his upper jaw, and fracturing his hand. Thereafter, Deputy Smith threatened Mr. Mock with further “control gaining” techniques should he speak out about what actually happened. Once hand cuffed Mr. Mock was forced into the back seat of the patrol car and taken to Greater El Monte Hospital where he was cleared for booking. He was then taken to the Temple Street police station where he was booked and held without medical care.

After his release from custody Mr. Mock's broken jaw was diagnosed and he underwent two surgeries. They included wiring his jaw shut for several weeks and inserting plates and screws into his jaw. His broken hand was also set in a cast.

While healing from his injuries Mr. Mock hired a private attorney to represent him in his battle against the criminal charges brought by the LA District Attorney’s Office.  In addition to the charges, his attorney had to contend with numerous attempts to conceal evidence, lies about the existence of evidence, the hiding of witnesses, and on the eve of trial, attempts to add charges against Mr. Mock.  Ultimately the court granted the attorney’s motion to dismiss the case holding that Deputy Smith never had probable cause to arrest Mr. Mock in the first place. In January of 2007 Mr. Mock’s attorney filed a suit for the violation of his civil rights and for the physical harm he suffered at the hands of Deputy Smith.

The lack of community interest in this case has not only increased the legal barriers placed before Mr. Mock’s attorney but it points out the apparent value placed on a victim’s race in matters of civil rights.  Unlike the  uproar in the Rodney King and Tennie Pierce cases, for Steven Mock it’s the silence that is deafening. The case is being heard in Pasadena Superior Court.  No trial date has been set at this time.

More information and/or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Media Contact:
Howard S. Rosen, Esq.
{818} 597-1711
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