And the Beat Goes On
Complaint filed against tough Rampart officer
Rodriguez and his two companions were handcuffed, arrested and taken to Rampart station. While his friends were soon freed, Rodriguez was booked on charges of felony hit-and-run driving. Once that charge is adjudicated, Rodriguez faces possible deportation to El Salvador.
To Rodriguez’s attorney, Amezcua’s alleged assault is typical of cops from Rampart and their hard-fisted approach to the neighborhoods they patrol. “They dehumanize the people they’re dealing with,” Gonzalez said. Then he added, in a reference to Chief Parks’ recent inquiry into Rampart, “It’s not a question of mediocrity. It’s a question of ethics and principles.”
Gonzalez termed Amezcua’s conduct “brazen,” especially in light of the intense publicity surrounding the conduct of the Rampart CRASH unit.
Rodriguez’s friend Quezada took the whole episode more personally. She claims that Amezcua often attempts to find her in violation of one statute or another, and targets her friends when he can’t nail her. “I feel like it’s my fault,” she said. “Amezcua tries to mess with me but he can’t, because I’m clean. And I was born here, so where are they going to deport me to?”
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