LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles City Council has approved a payment of $450,000 to a suspected car thief who was caught on camera being beaten by police.
The payment, approved Tuesday, is aimed at settling a lawsuit brought by Stanley Miller, an African American whose assault at the hands of a Los Angeles police officer has drawn comparisons to the beating of Rodney King, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
A video taken by a TV news helicopter crew showed Miller being kneed and struck 11 times with a large metal flashlight by Officer John Hatfield after a 21-mile car chase June 23, 2004.
No charges were brought against Hatfield, but he was fired by Police Chief William Bratton in August 2005. Bratton later announced police would be phasing out usage of the flashlights.
