Police Accused of Brutality at Picnic in Park : Law enforcement: Tribute to youth slain in drive-by shooting turns to melee. City Arts Commissioner Cheryl Hubbard says officers provoked fight at peaceful gathering.

PASADENA —  Several black residents have accused Pasadena police of brutality and using excessive force during a violent confrontation with a crowd of people attending a memorial picnic at Washington Park last Sunday night.

A 26-year-old woman was shot in the arm, and two officers and several other people were injured in the melee that broke out when two officers arrived at the park, where nearly 300 people were gathered for a tribute to a youth slain in a drive-by shooting. Three people were arrested.

Lt. Rick Law said the department has launched an internal investigation, reviewing the conduct of Officers Kelly Evans and Richard Vindiola. Both officers suffered possible concussions and numerous lumps and bruises in the altercation, and neither officer has been able to return to work, Law said.

A group of about 50 people went to police headquarters Sunday night to complain about the police conduct. One of them, City Arts Commissioner Cheryl Hubbard, said that police passed out complaint forms and that at least seven people, including herself, filed complaints.

They charged that the two officers provoked a fight at what had been a peaceful gathering. Several people were beaten and Maced by officers, they said.

“They incited the riot,” said Ebony Pruitt, who said she was hit in the face by an officer and had Mace sprayed in her eyes, nose and mouth. “I can’t understand why they went in like that. I’m outraged.”

In the confusion, Patricia Yancy, 26, was shot in the arm. However, Law said that no officers fired their weapons and that Yancy was probably shot by a group of young men who were aiming at the officers.

Law also said the two officers were under attack by a group of people and were defending themselves when they struck citizens with their batons.

Hubbard said she intends to file a lawsuit against the city and the Police Department, charging excessive force.

Law said the incident began when the officers went to the park about 7:45 p.m., after a citizen flagged them down and reported that there was a fight in progress.

When the officers arrived at the park, they saw people “arguing with their fists raised, as if they were going to fight,” Law said. Then, Law said Hubbard approached the officers and told them that “it was a black thing,” and that they should leave.

In an interview Wednesday, Hubbard said there was no fighting when the officers arrived--just some lighthearted cake throwing.

Hubbard’s attorney, Joe Hopkins, said Hubbard approached the officers to tell them that “we’ve got everything under control,” because she was afraid that their presence “might be antagonistic.”

Accounts differ as to what happened next.

Hopkins said Officer Evans told Hubbard, “It’s gonna be a white thing in a minute,” then jumped over the fence and began to beat Hubbard with his baton. Hopkins said the officer continued to beat Hubbard with his baton while she was down on the ground.

But Law said Hubbard initiated the physical fight when she punched Evans in the face. When Evans tried to arrest her, Law said, she continued to hit him.

Several other people then got involved and hit the two officers in the face and head while the officers were trying to subdue Hubbard, Law said.

In the course of the fight, Law said, Hubbard grabbed Evans’ baton and struck the officer with it two or three times. Law also said Vindiola was knocked to the ground, then thrown over a fence by the angry group.

During the melee, at least one person apparently fired several rounds at the officers, which prompted some of the youths to flee, Law said.

A group of about 20 other officers who had been called to assist Evans and Vindiola dispersed the crowd, Law said.

Patrick Williams, 26, and a juvenile whose name was not released were both arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer. Andre Dean Rogers, 25, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing an officer in the course of his duties.

Hubbard was taken home and was not cited for any crime. However, Law said, a criminal investigation is continuing and the facts of the incident will be presented to the district attorney for a possible criminal filing.