Marlene Pinnock was 51 years old when she was recorded being beaten by a highway patrol officer by the name of Daniel L. Andrew. A video of the beating was uploaded on the internet and spread quickly, gaining Pinnock huge support and making her a temporary icon in the actions being taken against discrimination by police officers. (McLaughlin, Michael)
According to Pinnock’s attorney, Caree Harper, the video didn’t tell the horrific story in its entirety. The event occurred late in the afternoon on a highway entry ramp when a 911 call was received regarding a woman walking along the interstate looking drunk or high. Upon being interviewed after the event, Pinnock described herself …show more content…
The officer showed up and the videotaped beating occurred. In an interview, Pinnock claimed that “he grabbed [her], he threw [her] down, he started beating [her]” and that she “felt like he was going to kill her” Pinnock also commented that “he should lose his job, and they fire him, so he can’t hurt nobody like he hurt me no more, because [she] doesn’t want to be hurt like that no more, and that it be that I made decisions that caused me to be beat like that.” Officer Andrew later quit his position in the CHP (Radio, Southern California). Although Pinnock won the case against the CHP, she is struggling now just as much as ever. After having been hospitalized for a week with a head injury, Pinnock is still slurring words and is still traumatized by the incident (Radio, Southern …show more content…
“Anniversary of the C.H.P. Freeway Beating of Marlene Pinnock.” PR Newswire: news distribution, 2 July 2016, www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anniversary-of-the-chp-freeway-beating-of-marlene-pinnock-300293552.html.
McLaughlin, Michael. “Marlene Pinnock, Grandmother Punched by California Highway Patrol, Files Lawsuit.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 18 July 2014, www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/18/marlene-pinnock-punched-by-police-files-lawsuit_n_5600989.html.
Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles “No criminal charges for CHP officer seen punching woman in video.” 3 December 2015, www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-chp-punching-video-marlene-pinnock-charges-20151203-story.html.
Radio, Southern California Public. “CHP beating video: LA woman said officer 'was trying to kill me' (Updated).” Southern California Public Radio, 11 August 2014,