Press Release - LAPD Investigating Alleged Battery by Congressman

S

Slowpoke_Rodrigo

New member
LAPD PRESS RELEASE

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, April 10, 2000


"LAPD Investigating Alleged Battery by Congressman"

Los Angeles - Robbery-Homicide Division is conducting an investigation of an alleged battery committed by Congressman Patrick Kennedy.

Victim Della Patton, a security agent at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), alleged that on March 26, 2000, at approximately 11:35 p.m., she was battered by Congressman Kennedy at a pre-board security check point in Terminal 7.

Victim Patton and a witness to the incident have been interviewed by Robbery-Homicide Division detectives. Airport security cameras captured video of the incident. An examination of the videotape revealed that there appears to have been physical contact between Congressman Kennedy and Ms. Patton while at the security check point.

Ms. Patton complained of pain to her left shoulder as the result of the incident.

The investigation is continuing.

For further information please contact Media Relations Section at
213-485-3586.



------------------
Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...

Vote for the Neal Knox 13
 
He'll Walk.

------------------
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.
 
More droit de seigneur that we should by now expect from the royal family of the United States.

No violent guns were present - does a gunless battery even qualify as a crime today? Or is it more like a parking ticket?

Patton should be described as 'complainant,' not 'victim.'



------------------
Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...

Vote for the Neal Knox 13
 
If you or I did it?
We'ld get hung... For the THEMs - it's just a mistake and they shall TRY not to do it again...

------------------
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.
 
As a woman who crossed a Kennedy, she should be glad she's not dead. :(

BTW, I assume you all know that Rep. Kennedy is a rabid anti-gunner.
 
How about the TX congressman (?) who was detained for going thru an airport security checkpoint with a loaded handgun in his carry on bag. He claimed that it was unintentional, and that he had forgotten it was there. Now THAT's safe gun handling.

He is one of the state legislators who voted AGAINST the CCW/CHL law in TX. His excuse for the gun in this case? He said that his family had been threatened, so he put it in his car
(illegal w/o CCW), and then forgot about it.

No charges will be filed, apparently, against this elected hypo-critter. I'm sure we'd get the same treatment.
 
UPDATE

Kennedy Apologizes for Airport Spat
By Caren Benjamin
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, April 12, 2000; 9:15 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON –– Rep. Patrick Kennedy urged the Los Angeles police Wednesday to release a surveillance video of a confrontation between him and a security guard who claims he shoved and grabbed her.

Kennedy said, "I lost my temper," during the incident last month at Los Angeles International Airport. But he said he apologized quickly to the guard, Della Patton, 58, and never hurt her as she claims. His lawyer said the video would clear him.

"The entire episode has been blown completely out of proportion," Kennedy, D-R.I., said in a speech at a dinner for Rhode Island business and government leaders. "I could have acted a lot better than I did, but I did not do any of the horrible things that have been reported."

Police have said the video shows "physical contact" between Patton and Kennedy. Police also have said the video is evidence in a criminal investigation and would not be released.

No charges have been filed against Kennedy.

Kennedy's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, who served as chief investigative counsel for House Democrats in President Clinton's impeachment proceedings, wrote Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks requesting the video be made public.

"I am extremely hopeful that the release of the video and the prompt confirmation that this episode merits no action by the police or city attorney end this matter and allow both Ms. Patton and Congressman Kennedy to get back to their normal lives," Lowell wrote.

Lowell, for the first time, also outlined Kennedy's view of the March 26 scuffle.

Patton had said Kennedy hurt her after she told him his bag was too big to fit through an X-ray scanner. Lowell denied the claim.

"Ms. Patton came through the metal detector to confront the congressman, and he did not go after her in any way," Lowell wrote. "The congressman never grabbed or twisted or pulled Ms. Patton's arm or shoved her down or caused her excruciating pain."

Kennedy left the security area to check his bag, then returned and saw Patton there, Lowell wrote.

"Ms. Patton stayed on her job with no apparent injury after the congressman departed and even was able to show her co-workers what happened without any apparent restrictions of movement or pain," Lowell wrote.

Patton said the congressman, son of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., grabbed her arm and cursed at her while ordering her out of the way. She complained of injuries to her left shoulder and filed a battery complaint with police on or about April 1.

Kennedy's chief of staff, Tony Marcella, said Patton's attorney, Paul Trump, has approached them hoping for a settlement.

Trump said he contacted Lowell, simply to "open a line of communication," but he would not comment on their discussion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top