The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES- The leader of the black Muslim group Nation of Islam dispatched a top aide to meet with Los Angeles’ police chief to reduce tensions surrounding last week’s arrest and alleged police beating of one of the group’s ministers.
Police Chief William J. Bratton told the Los Angeles Times that he met for about two hours Monday with one of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan’s lieutenants.
The chief said he promised that the police department would thoroughly investigate the confrontation Thursday between officers and Nation minister Tony Muhammad at a vigil for a shooting victim.
The Nation of Islam is a political and religious civil rights organization for African-Americans.
Muhammad appeared at a news conference the day after the vigil and said officers beat him without provocation. But officers said he instigated the use of force by joining a mob that was assaulting officers in Hyde Park.
Police said Muhammad was belligerent and uncooperative, and arrested him for investigation of committing battery against a police officer. He was later released on $20,000 (euro16,420) bail.
A transcript of the incident released by police Saturday showed that Muhammad disobeyed orders when an officer asked Muhammad to “back up,” twice responding, “make me.”