[ilbegone]

SB Police: Ambulance re-route slowed booking process for beaten suspect


Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writer
10/22/2009

Video: Second eyewitness video surfaces

SAN BERNARDINO - A decision by ambulance dispatchers caused the subject of a videotaped police beating to be transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where officers were unable to book him into jail for three days, police officials said Thursday.

Darren Johnson, 43, underwent surgery Thursday on a compound fracture of his hand suffered when he was struck repeatedly with a baton while being arrested about 10:30 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven on the corner of Highland and Mountain View avenues.

He also suffered a broken back and gashes to his legs and head, according to a lawyer working on behalf of his domestic partner.

San Bernardino police on Thursday said the delay in booking Johnson was not their fault.

[I saw the video and would say it was their fault: "struck repeatedly with a baton" I thought they would break his ribs, they got his spine instead]

"The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department does not allow absentee booking outside of (the county jail ward at) Arrowhead Regional Medical Center," San Bernardino police Lt. Dan Kiel said. "Circumstances beyond our control prompted him to be placed at Loma Linda."

Johnson was stopped by police Monday night after allegedly running a stop sign and traffic signal while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcyle. The barbershop owner, who has no criminal record in the county, became agitated while talking to police and struck one of the officers, touching off the baton-swinging scuffle, department officials have said.

[I believe they are either lying, or manipulated Johnson into movement which could be construed as offensive in nature]

The beating was captured on cell phone video by at least two eyewitnesses.

Johnson was arrested for the traffic violations, resisting arrest, assaulting an officer and possession of cocaine.

[Lots of cocaine in the evidence locker to submit as contrived "evidence"]

Kiel said he did not know why the ambulance was dispatched to Loma Linda instead of the county facility in Colton.

He said Johnson was expected to be booked Thursday at either Arrowhead Regional Medical Center or West Valley Detention Center.

Regardless of the circumstances, Johnson should have been set free if criminal charges weren't filed within 48 hours of his arrest, said Gary Wenkle Smith, a San Bernardino attorney representing Johnson's domestic partner, Landra Santana.

"He has certain constitutional protections that everyone is afforded and those were not given to him," Smith said. "You cannot take a person off the street and keep them from lawyers, from family, and deny information. This is not the kind of conduct we expect from modern-day law enforcement."

Kiel said that Johnson was allowed - and made - phone calls very shortly after his arrest, but the spokesman did not know whom he called.

[Yeah, right]

Smith, the lawyer, said Johnson did not contact any family members until the San Bernardino mayor's office intervened on Wednesday afternoon, nearly two days after the arrest.

The case remains under investigation, police have said.

Meanwhile, prosecutors on Thursday began reviewing police reports to decide on potential charges.

[A police report can be award winning creative fiction]

And family members were eagerly waiting for him to be booked so they could find out his bail amount and possibly get him released.

"We are on pins and needles," said Pamela Johnson-Dickinson, Johnson's sister.

Santana, his domestic partner, was allowed a visit for the first time Thursday.

"He's hurt badly, as we all knew," said Smith, the lawyer. "Anybody who's seen the video knows that he took quite a beating."