KTLA News: "Excessive force by LA County Sheriffs suspected in death of Ferdinand Bell..." (1978)

Описание: The KTLA newsfilm collection at the UCLA Film & Television Archive consists of cut and unedited stories, outtakes and fill footage, originally shot on 16mm reversal film stock with magnetic soundtrack. Some footage, particularly material not used for broadcast, may be without sound.

Title: “Excessive force by LA County Sheriffs suspected in death of Ferdinand Bell while in custody” Date: January 19, 1978.

Summary: On January 9, 1978, Ferdinand Bell was booked at the Los Angeles County Jail on suspicion of reckless driving. According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Bell became violent while being booked and as a result was taken to the jail hospital ward where he was medicated and placed in heavy leather restraints. Sheriff’s officials claimed Bell broke out of those restraints twice, and after the second time, they noticed he had developed irregular breathing patterns. Bell was then transported to County USC Medical Center where he later died. During a press conference at the Greater Los Angeles Press Club, a lawyer representing Bell’s family discusses the findings of a private pathologist that indicate manual strangulation caused Bell’s death. The family’s lawyer states that the Coroner’s office will not release their preliminary findings and mentions the coroner did not perform an autopsy in the part of Bell’s neck that indicated manual strangulation. The lawyer also mentions that Sheriff’s reports stating Bell had to be restrained do not mention that Bell “had to be choked in order to be restrained.” The lawyer announces the family intends to sue Los Angeles County for wrongful death, and he expects the District Attorney’s Office will investigate to see if there is a basis for filing criminal charges. Newspaper articles from 1978 indicate that in February of that year, the Los Angeles City Council ordered a complete investigation into the Los Angeles Police Department’s policies on using force to subdue suspects. Some segments containing the reporter's voiceover are audio only; additional footage lacks sound.

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