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Agency: Woman pushed officer who then punched her

By WTOP Staff

TAMI ABDOLLAH
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California Highway Patrol officer videotaped repeatedly punching a woman on the side of a Los Angeles freeway had just pulled her from oncoming traffic and she resisted by pushing him, a patrol investigator said.

Investigator Sean Taketa outlined the July 1 incident in a request to search 51-year-old Marlene Pinnock’s medical records. The narrative in the search warrant was made public in court documents last month and is the first detailed account of the incident since a passing driver released cellphone video that went viral.

Pinnock’s attorney, Caree Harper, said the video doesn’t align with the investigator’s account and shows her client is not resisting arrest before she’s pinned and beaten by the officer.

Multiple drivers called 911 to report Pinnock walking barefoot along the side of the freeway.

Officer Daniel Andrew arrived and told Pinnock she could walk off or have a ride away from the freeway, according to the warrant. She walked away without listening to his instructions and moved partially into traffic, so Andrew “grabbed her arm to prevent her from being struck by traffic. Ms. Pinnock resisted by pushing the officer,” the documents say.

Andrew then straddled her on the ground as Pinnock resisted by “kicking her legs, grabbing the officer’s uniform and twisting her body,” the investigator wrote. Andrew “struck her in the upper torso and head several times with a closed right fist,” the records say.

The CHP said in its initial report that the officer arrested her out of fear for both of their safety.

Pinnock has filed suit in federal court, naming agency Commissioner Joe Farrow, Andrew and the investigator, Taketa. She alleges civil rights violations, excessive force, assault, battery and a violation of due-process rights.

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office declined to file charges Aug. 19 against Pinnock for resisting a peace officer due to a lack of sufficient evidence, spokesman Rob Wilcox said.

Taketa said Pinnock suffered no signs of physical injury and refused medical treatment. She was ultimately placed on a psychiatric hold for two weeks, the warrant says. Harper said Pinnock had a bloody nose, black eyes, bruises and scratches on her back.

Harper didn’t provide The Associated Press with medical documentation because she said the records from Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where Pinnock was on psychiatric hold, weren’t accurate or consistent in characterizing Pinnock’s injuries. One doctor examined her and found no signs of physical trauma but another found facial swelling and ordered ibuprofen and ice packs, Harper said.

The warrant said the Highway Patrol was conducting a criminal investigation to determine if Andrew used excessive force and if he needlessly committed assault in his role as an officer. The agency forwarded its investigation to prosecutors for potentially serious charges last month.

Rep. Maxine Waters has called the incident unjustifiable police brutality and said Andrew should be fired. She’s holding a news conference Friday with dozens of local women’s groups, Pinnock and Harper to “demand justice” and ask for updates on the investigation.

Commissioner Farrow has said he was shocked by the video and met with community leaders multiple times since the incident. He vowed to expedite a comprehensive investigation.

The investigator said he was seeking the medical records to determine Pinnock’s injuries and her treatment for a potential felony filing.

In an interview with the AP last month, Pinnock said she believed the officer was trying to kill her.

“He grabbed me, he threw me down, he started beating me,” she said. “I felt like he was trying to kill me, beat me to death.”

Pinnock has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been off her medication for two to three months before the altercation.

Andrew, who is on paid administrative leave, joined the Highway Patrol as a cadet in April 2012 and became an officer six months later. An attorney representing him did not immediately provide comment.

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Tami Abdollah can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/latams

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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