
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 19, 1991                   TAG: 9103190327
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                                LENGTH: Short

POLICE TRANSCRIPTS ALLUDE TO BEATING

A policeman involved in the beating of an unarmed black motorist told another officer he hadn't "beaten anyone this bad in a long time," according to a transcript released Monday.

"You just had a big time use of force," Sgt. Stacey Koon told a police dispatcher after the beating of Rodney King after a car chase March 3.

The transcript released by the Police Department contains messages between the officers transmitted by portable computers in their squad cars.

A police official investigating the assault said officers sent a message that included an apparent racial joke about the film "Gorillas in the Mist."

The Los Angeles Times reported today the remark apparently referred to a description of a domestic trouble call involving blacks prior to the arrest of King. The Washington Post also said the "gorillas" message was transmitted before the beating. - Associated Press

by CNB