Hunter (1984–1991): Season 4, Episode 4 - Flashpoint - full transcript
A city councilman's son is killed in a botched traffic stop and he holds the LAPD responsible, citing racism.
Elandro!
Elandro!
And we'll have a riot
that makes last night's
riot look like a picnic.
Because he likes fast
cars and flashy women.
And sometimes he
steals them both.
Get down!
Every time a Chicano
goes for his wallet,
he's gunned down by some
frightened policeman.
Hey, you know what they say
about the beach don't you,
Charlie?
No waves, no ride.
6, Johnson High, 0.
Yes!
Yes!
We did it!
We ran those bums
into the ground!
Hey, Dad smells beer in the
car, man, it's back to walking.
Or the bus.
Oh no, not the bus, man!
Look what you made him do.
You're crazy,
Ricardo, you know that?
Yes, I am crazy.
But that's not the point.
The point is that,
yes, we trashed it.
Yes, we're probably
going to get it.
But tonight we're heroes!
Hey, Lisa, think about it.
She likes you, man.
She likes you.
She likes everything about you.
Yeah, we're going
to a party after this.
All right, let's go!
Who's pumping the gas?
Somebody pump the gas, man.
OK, the bus.
Not the bus again.
Cars and women, man,
nothing but a headache.
Nothing but a problem.
Aich, look at that.
Nice car, man.
Not Bad, capital B.
You guys like her, huh?
She's clean.
You can have her, man.
You gonna fill it up?
No, man, you got a mechanic?
Yeah.
Let me talk to him, OK?
Left at 6 o'clock.
Be back tomorrow at 8:30.
Gracias, senior, man.
Hey, you guys know
anything about cars, huh?
This boy.
Little.
Oh yeah?
A little, huh?
What about, oh,
let's say $100, huh?
If you fix the car, huh?
Hey, you got a deal.
- Man, you quick, huh?
- Yeah.
You better open the door for me.
Yeah, I'll get you
coffee if you want.
You know what
you're doing, right?
Yeah, start it up.
Cut it.
Cut it!
Man?
Try it again.
Cut!
Sorry, man.
It... this... she looks fried.
You're a genius, huh?
You keep the $100, all right?
Hey.
Man?
You keep the $100, OK?
- You sure?
- Course he's sure.
What you talking about?
Hey, man, you keep it.
And you know, maybe you
can give us a ride, OK?
OK.
All right, man.
V monos, man, let's
get out of here.
Let's go get some more beer.
My car's right here, man.
Six to one he runs it.
What would you
call that, partner?
Rolling stop, shall we?
This is 381.
We're code 6 with
a Chevy Impala,
license 1 Paula
Charlie Edward 421.
Boyle Heights, corner of
Stone Court and Overhill.
Roger 381.
Come on, sonny, just
tell him who your dad is.
Hello, officer.
Can I take a look
at your license?
Yes, sir.
You see that stop sign
back there, Antonio?
Uh, no sir, no I didn't.
You're not legally
blind, are you?
No.
No sir, I'm not.
Well, them I'm going
to give you a ticket.
Let me see your registration.
Yes, sir.
You been drinking, Antonio?
No sir, not me.
OK, everybody, out of the car.
Hey, we're coming out, man!
Don't shoot, please!
Get out!
Let me see those hands!
- Come on, man.
Don't shoot.
We didn't do nothing.
Don't shoot.
- Over there!
Don't shoot.
Lay down, arms and
legs spread, now!
Keep those arms out!
Both officers went down.
Who was it?
Conrad and Bennett.
Conrad's dead, and
Bennett looks bad.
And we've got three
dead suspects.
We don't know what
the hell happened.
OK, put a man on the black
and white, one on the Chevrolet.
Seal off the entire area.
Set up search teams.
Do a complete sweep.
If you find anything,
don't touch it.
Put a man on it.
And everybody get a log start.
- Right.
You know, when
we got here, there
were a dozen guys back there.
Now there's two dozen.
One thing we sure don't
need is a major 415.
We're going to need the
whole damn watch to cover this.
Well, let's piece the
scene together, huh?
What are his chances?
He's lost a lot of blood.
We thought he was
dead when we got here.
- Where's his badge?
- I don't know.
I never saw it.
You ride with him
to the hospital.
If he says anything, write it
down, and get it back to me
immediately.
Understand?
- Yes, sir.
- Hunter?
Yeah.
This kid's still alive.
Damn shame.
Knock that off.
Put him in the wagon
along with Bennett.
Yes, sir.
Sergeant?
Sergeant.
Sandra Browning, KCPY News.
Yeah, hi, how you doing?
The officer says
you're in charge sure.
Sure am.
Is it true that the boys shot
here this evening were unarmed.
Listen, I don't have the time.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Sergeant.
Sergeant, are you aware
that two of the boys
were shot in the back while
lying face down on the ground?
Was this an execution?
You want to tell him
to shut that off for me?
You haven't answered
my question, Sergeant.
Miss Browning,
you're interfering
with the police officers'
investigation of a homicide.
If you continue
to harass me, I'm
going to arrest you and him.
My opponent wants you to
think of me as a Chicano.
Well, since I am, this
is one time he's right.
He would like you to believe
that I have special interests,
Chicano interests, the
illiteracy of our young people,
crime, unemployment.
But these are not issues
confined to the Barrio.
They transcend the
boundaries of race,
yet my opponent refuses
to address them.
Perhaps he can afford not to.
The people of this city cannot.
Together, on election day,
we can make a difference.
Thank you.
Speak to you, sir.
There's a problem.
Your son's been taken
to the hospital.
Sir, it was a
reporter who called.
He saw Tony wheeled in.
That's all.
Come on.
Someone definitely
left here standing up.
Yeah, that explains Bennett's
missing gun and badge.
Also explains the ancient
police proverb that where
there's press, there's brass.
I just talked to the hospital.
That young Hispanic had
taken in with Bennett
was councilman Elandro's son.
Needless to say, with
the Elandro involved,
things are going
to get very sticky.
You two are going to have
to do a thorough job.
Well, commander, we always
do a thorough job, regardless
of whose son is involved.
Whether you like it
or not, this department
is now on display.
The press is going to have
a field day with this.
Two unarmed Hispanics
shot in the back
by white police officers.
I don't have to tell
you that community
relations in this part of town
are strained enough as it is.
I'll be sure to tell
that to Conrad's wife.
Get that under
control, Sergeant.
Now where you running to?
You're such a big target.
I tell you every time, man.
It don't hurt no more.
It just... it feel like
I got air condition.
Compadre, I am dying.
You've got to get
me to a hospital.
Be reasonable, amigo.
I can't take you to a hospital.
You can't leave me here, man.
If they find you alive,
you'll tell them everything.
Please.
Ai, Benito, it's
funny, huh, after all
the things we've been through,
for it to come to this.
No.
No...
Councilman do you
think your son's shooting
was racially motivated?
Do you have any
comments, Councilman?
- What?
- Your son is near death.
Will it affect your campaign?
Excuse me.
Councilman, is there anything
that you want to say about...
All right, Evelyn.
Keep us posted on
that, would you?
Hey, we're at the hospital.
Thank you.
Well, we've received two more
bomb threats at the station,
and they have burned, in fact,
two more black and whites.
We had an entire
watch out there.
Have Bowen declare
a tactical alert.
Councilman, I've arranged
for a room where we can talk.
Won't be necessary, commander.
What happened?
Your son was pulled over
for a moving violation.
Apparently, he and
the other two suspects
were shot accidentally.
Suspects.
Suspected of what?
Well, we don't have
all the facts yet.
Why is it every time a
Chicano goes for his wallet,
he's gunned down by some
frightened policeman?
That's just not the case.
I want to see my son.
Commander, we understand
you want a riot on your hands.
What can you tell us?
No, no, we don't have a riot.
We're not even close to a riot.
What we have here is a
misunderstanding, apparently.
Yes, my son was
just brought in here.
His name is Antonio Elandro.
Yes, Councilman.
He's an ICU.
Intensive care?
Yes.
Well, do know how
serious his injuries are?
No, I'm sorry.
I don't.
But Dr. Eller will
come out and talk
to you just as soon as he can.
In the meantime, is there
anything I can do for you?
No.
Well, why don't you have a seat
in our waiting room over there.
Thank you.
Dr. Elias
to emergency room, stat.
Dr. Elias to
emergency room, stat.
Volunteer to main lobby.
Volunteer to main lobby.
His father is over
there waiting for you.
Councilman Elandro?
Yes.
I'm Dr. Eller.
Oh, uh, my son... how is he?
I'm afraid there's
nothing we could do.
Oh, no.
The bullet entered his chest,
and his heart and his left lung
were irreparably damaged.
We did everything possible.
OK.
Uh, may I see him?
Yes, of course.
Ai, Antonio.
Ai, mijo.
They won't get away
with this, Tony.
I swear to you.
I won't rest until they pay
for what they've done to you.
Ai.
Remember, you're
not the first team.
You're support.
So make sure you coordinate
your sweep with the units
already on the scene.
Now, Rawlings is in
charge of sector one,
is in two, is in three,
and Seneca, you got four.
Make sure your men have masks.
We had to use gas and some
it's still floating around.
Be careful.
It's a very volatile
situation out there.
I cannot emphasize that enough.
Now, we want our presence
felt out there, but remember,
you're targets, so watch your
backs, all right OK, take off.
We have something, Charlie.
A report came in
a couple of hours
ago there was gunfire down
near the river, about a mile
away from the shooting.
And they found this
guy, Benito..
He was shot twice, although
we have three witnesses that
claim they only heard one shot.
So you think he was wounded
before he got to the river?
Yeah, there's no
way the guy could
have gotten there by himself.
Now, had a known
associate, a Santiago Munez.
They're Marielitos.
They were serving a murder
prison term in Havana
when Castro sent them over
here as part of the amnesty
deal back in '80.
They did a six year stretch
in a Texas penitentiary
for armed robbery, and
for the last two years,
they've been working
strong arm for Louie
Garrison in Las Vegas.
Where'd you get all this stuff?
Las Vegas police.
Garrison's dead.
Munez shot him today in an
argument in bar at 12:30.
There were witnesses,
but Munez got away.
And you know it only takes five
hours to get here from Vegas.
What do these two have
to do with those kids?
We don't know.
Can you place Munez and
at the scene of the shooting.
No.
The blood we found outside
the kid's car on the ground
is the same type as,
but we can't prove it's his.
What about
fingerprints on the car?
Nothing.
Now, Canio was wearing
gloves, perhaps Munez was also.
Oh, nobody's going to believe
this story unless you find
Munez and some physical
evidence to put
him at the scene of the crime.
Bennett just got out of surgery.
He's stable.
Thank god.
Bowen?
Yes, sir.
Have Henderson bring
me down a cot, will you?
You've got it.
Put out an APB on Munez.
You find him, we
have a chance to get
this thing under control.
Oh, no.
Don't you people ever sleep?
Come on, Sporty.
Let me in.
It's important.
Gimme a handle on
this guy, McCall.
Las Vegas police says he likes
fast cars and flashy women,
and sometimes he
steals them both.
What's he into?
Shooting cops.
Last night, Boyle Heights.
That's right.
He even stole one of the
officer's badge and gun.
But I can't figure it.
What was he doing
with Elandro's boy?
Sporty, if I find
him, I'll ask him.
Let me tell you something.
If you find this
guy, I guarantee you
that the chief is going to
give you a medal personally.
No, no, no, McCall.
That is the kind of notoriety
I will go to my grave avoiding.
But for you, I'll get the
word out before breakfast.
All right, ladies and
gentlemen, the councilman
won't be answering
any questions.
Please, please, no
questions right now.
Please.
He'll be making a
statement momentarily.
Ladies, please.
Last night, three
outstanding young men
were killed in cold blood.
One of them was my son.
Hi.
Hi.
Get in.
Oh, hey, you
didn't get no offer.
I didn't do nothing.
Either you get in or
I come out and get you.
I thought I knew every
vice cop west of Pomona.
Got a new one now, baby.
This tragedy is not mine alone.
The Barrio is a
troubled community.
Our young people are
our hope for the future.
Last night that future was put
in doubt by the sound of police
gunfire, a sound heard
all too frequently
in the Hispanic community.
I make this pledge to the
memory of Ricardo, ,
Angel, my son, Antonio,
and all those whose efforts have
elected me to public office.
I will fight... excuse me...
I will fight until
the institution
responsible for their deaths
is brought to justice.
OK, Mr. Elandro,
do you have any idea
at all what your son could
have been doing last night?
That's a strange question.
You don't know what he was
doing, and yet you killed him.
Look, we think
that there was two
armed fugitives in
the car with him
when he was pulled
over last night.
Now, our preliminary
report shows that your son
was shot by accident.
Fugitives.
Yes.
Do you really expect
me to believe that?
Now, just... just a minute.
Tell me Sergeant, how do you
think two fugitives ended up
in that car with my son and
his friends on their way home
from a soccer game?
I mean, do you have anything
to back up that statement?
No.
I don't know.
But please, don't forget.
A police officer is dead.
Another one is near death.
Oh, please.
Please.
I've got a 17-year-old son lying
in the morgue with that cop's
bullet in his chest!
First you kill my son.
Now you come here with
some makeshift story.
But what's the... why?
What, to help you justify it?
Mr. Elandro, we're
just trying to find
the truth in this thing.
The truth?
Yeah, the truth?
Does that scare you?
Oh, just... just get out.
Look, Mr. Elandro,
you cannot continue
to make speeches like that to
rile the people of the city up.
It's not going to
bring your son back.
Get out.
Please, get out.
Get out.
Come on.
Come on.
Put it down.
I told you I told you to
stay away from that phone.
Didn't I, huh?
Don't you ever listen?
Huh?
Now listen, and listen good.
I'm going out on
business, police business.
If you even look out a
window, when I get back,
I'll rip your heart out.
You know I will, don't you?
You be a good little muchacha
and maybe when I come back,
we play house some more, huh?
Ai, mami.
Honey, huh?
Don't forget, huh?
No peeky out the window, huh?
NEWS REPORTER: An estimated 500
rioters battle policemen last
night after the tragic shooting
death of three unarmed
Hispanic teenagers
by two members of the metro PD.
One of the boys was Councilman
Michael Elandro's son.
The three youth were buried
today at St. Agnes cemetery
where more than
100 mourners joined
the parents of the slain boys.
Councilman Elandro
made a formal request
to the district
attorney to initiate
a grand jury investigation
into the shooting.
The police model
to protect and serve
must be transformed from
paint on the outside
of a city patrol car
to something the police
feel in their hearts.
They must be accountable.
At the moment, the
streets of Boyle Heights
are quiet after last
night's conflict.
How long they'll remain that way
in light of Elandro's charges
and the police
department's inability
to explain the shootings
is anyone's guess.
Turn it off.
And on the lighter side
of the news today,
there hasn't been a pit
bull attack in eight weeks.
After your visit to
the councilman's office
this morning, I'm
holding you responsible
for his uncooperative attitude.
Tact and diplomacy are part
of a professional image.
Or didn't you know that?
No, I knew that, commander.
But I have a murder case
to solve, and in doing so,
I suggest you walk the line.
One more insensitive
move and we could
have a riot that
makes last night's
riot look like a picnic.
Commander Kane, would
you like for us to...
What I would like
is for all press
inquiries and all information to
be channeled through my office.
I believe that was my last
directive, wasn't it, Captain?
Yes sir, it was.
Now that the councilman
has asked for a grand jury
investigation,
all the facts must
be treated as confidential.
No one but me makes
any statements.
Know
You know, it really is too bad
he failed his fireman's test.
Don't make waves, Hunter.
Hey, you know what
they say down the beach,
don't you, Charlie?
No waves, no ride.
Excuse me, sir.
I'm looking for the officer
in charge of the murders
in Boyle Heights.
Sergeant Hunter?
Yeah.
A couple of guys in a Corvette
broke down in my station
last night.
- Mhm.
They spoke Spanish.
I think... I think
they were Cuban.
Those kids that got
killed in Boyle Heights...
They were there, too.
They gave the guys from
the Corvette a ride.
Does that look like them?
Yeah, I think that's them.
You think that's them.
Sit down.
I want to talk to you.
What are you talking about?
Commander gave specific
orders not to talk to Elandro.
You give Kane a reason,
he'll suspend you.
Look, if Elandro understands
how his son wound up in that car
with Munez, perhaps
he'll help keep
the people off the streets.
All right, maybe I
ought to go with you.
No, no, no, no.
I'll go alone.
This way if Elandro
doesn't listen to me,
there'll be somebody
left to work this case.
OK, look.
I'll go over to SID and
see if they have anything
off of Munez's Corvette.
And if you get
something, call me.
See?
See?
You're safe.
So if you see that sucker,
you let me know, OK?
All right.
Ow!
Hello, ladies.
How's business?
You still interested
in that dude
you told me about this morning?
You got something?
I know you remember what you
promised me now, don't you?
Do I look like an
amnesiac to you, woman?
I'm just making sure, you
know, because last time I...
Hey, hey, everybody
knows that Sporty James
always makes good on his deals.
Now what you got for me?
OK.
Go ahead.
Tell him what you told me.
Guy with a badge picked
me up this morning.
A cop?
I don't think so.
You and me gonna make a
little phone call, mama.
Uh, you got a quarter?
Have anything yet, Reuben?
We've lifted a few prints,
but nothing that matches
Elandro's kid or his friends.
What about Munez?
Deedee, if he was in this
car, he was wearing gloves.
Reuben?
I think I got a new one.
Give me the tape.
It's different, all right.
Index cards, please?
No, next.
It's a match.
Whose is it?
Elandro's son.
L56, L56, come in, please.
This is L57.
L56, go ahead.
Hunter, Elandro's son was
definitely at the gas station.
Reuben just pulled a set of his
prints right off Munez's hood.
Good work, partner.
I'll call you later.
L56 out.
Sir, you can't go in
without an appointment.
Please, sir.
- I do understand that.
I'd like to talk to
you just for a second.
What in the hell do
you think you're doing?
After his soccer game, your
son went to a gas station.
There he met two men.
He gave them a ride.
He did not know that they
were armed fugitives.
Now, the gas station attendant
was a witness to that.
Your son was just
being a good Samaritan.
Well, I appreciate your
bringing me this dubious bit
of information, Sergeant,
but that still does
not account for what happened.
My son was unarmed
when he was shot.
His two friends were lying
face down on the ground
when they were
shot, in the back.
Now, have you an
explanation for that?
No, I don't.
Not yet.
I'm working on that.
This was not police brutality.
And I'll bet you when
we look into this,
it had nothing to do with race.
You've got to be more
responsible for what you're
telling people out there.
You're inciting a riot.
Now, nobody can change
what has happened.
We can't bring your son
back, unfortunately.
But you do have the
power to change things.
You can keep things
from getting worse.
What would your son want?
He would want to be alive.
Sergeant McCall?
There's a Sport James
on the phone for you.
It's over there.
Thanks.
Yeah, Sporty?
Where have you been?
I have been looking all
over creation for you.
Do you have something for me?
- I
- think I have found Munez.
Where?
He is at an apartment
on Crenshaw and Baltic.
Thanks.
L56, this is L90.
We're all set.
We got a land line
open to the station.
Here he comes.
Let her go!
Drop it!
Drop it, or or she dies!
Drop it.
Come on.
Move it back.
Get down!
Ow!
Which way did he go?
Took off down the street.
He's got a gun.
This is L56.
All units, I have a 187 suspect,
last seen on foot at Crenshaw
Boulevard, headed for Baltic.
Hispanic male wearing
blue sports coat,
considered armed and dangerous.
L56 out.
Get in.
I lost him.
Put a 10 block
perimeter on this place
and get an area unit in here.
How's Bowen?
Took in a lot of water,
but he'll be all right.
What happened?
I was right on his
tail and I lost him.
Maybe he stole a car.
No, he didn't have time.
A damn bus.
ID this guy.
What is this, a cop convention?
I'm looking for a Latino
man with a blue sport
coat, got on a ways back.
- The other bop?
- Yeah, the other cop.
Where'd he get off?
Back there at 43rd and Fig.
I think he headed for
the motel on the corner.
Yeah, $12 an hour, $36 all day.
Looking for a Latino
man in a blue sport coat.
You seen him?
He's here, but he ain't here.
What does that mean?
That means he's in
14, but he ain't in 14.
So where is he?
He said he wanted
a bottle of booze,
so I sent him over there.
I watched him walk down
there about five minutes ago.
OK, thanks.
He went into that little
market over there.
I'm going in.
Call the cavalry.
Watch your rear.
I'll get there as soon as I can.
Freeze!
Police!
That is why I thought it
important that I come here
to police headquarters,
in order to express
my sincere hope that together
we can stop these riots.
Councilman, don't you
think that just about
ends the possibility of
your being elected mayor?
After all, the majority
of your support
comes from the
Hispanic community,
a community outraged
by the very people
you seem to be apologizing to.
Well, in this
case, Ms. Padrosa,
an apology would
not be out of order.
Councilman, I find
it strange that you
would choose this
particular district
to make that sort of statement.
Are you apologizing
to the people
responsible for
your son's death?
Apparently, Ms.
Browning, you were
not listening to what I said.
My son picked up two
hardened criminals.
These men were responsible for
my son's death and the shooting
of two police officers,
one of whom is dead,
and the other in
critical condition.
This is not, I repeat,
not a race issue.
And I'm here to make that clear.
Councilman...
Just... just please.
I vowed after my son's
death to find the truth.
Those who seek the
truth and find it
must be prepared to face it.
I'd rather lose this
election than promote
a lie that would lead to
more violence and bloodshed.
Thank you.
One more question, Councilman...
Well, that just about ends
a promising political career.
Maybe.
Dr. Marler,
please call the operator.
Dr. Marler, please
call the operator.
Councilman.
Well, hell, Sergeant.
I want to thank you for
the speech made last week.
I wish I could have been there.
Well, you didn't miss anything.
I did what I had to do.
I just, uh, told them the facts.
I understand you've gone
up six points in the polls.
How about that?
And I thought I was
committing political suicide.
But you didn't.
Thanks again.
Thank you.
Remember to vote.
So what do you think
your stuff is, anyway?
It's spinach.
It's creamed spinach.
This is good for you.
This will give you strength.
It'll make you
get better faster.
It has iron in it.
Hi, group.
Hey.
Hey, Hunter.
Hi, Bennett.
How you doing?
OK.
You know who was
just here to see me?
Our next mayor,
Councilman Elandro.
Oh, yeah.
Pretty good, huh?
Oh, I got your
badge back for you.
How about that?
Congratulations.
That's great, Hunter.
Thanks a lot.
Yeah, when you
getting out of here?
Three days, with good behavior.
And good nutrition.
Do what the doctor says and
eat your spinach, all right?
We gotta go.
See you later.
Good luck.
Adios.
I'm glad he's feeling better.
Feeling better?
How could you feel better
eating that garbage food?
If I had to rely on getting
better in this hospital
eating that food,
I'd be in the morgue.
What are you talking about?
The hospital plans a nutritional
meal like that for you
to eat so you'll get better.
Let me tell you
something about planning
a nutritional meal.
They don't know
what they're doing
in hospitals nutritionally.
Is that right?
Well, what would you
serve, Mexican food?
Well, let me tell you
something, Ms. Weisenheimer.
I knew a guy who was
dumb enough to ride
his daughter's skateboard.
He broke both bones
in his lower leg.
We tied a jalepeno pepper behind
his name and he got better.
Elandro!
And we'll have a riot
that makes last night's
riot look like a picnic.
Because he likes fast
cars and flashy women.
And sometimes he
steals them both.
Get down!
Every time a Chicano
goes for his wallet,
he's gunned down by some
frightened policeman.
Hey, you know what they say
about the beach don't you,
Charlie?
No waves, no ride.
6, Johnson High, 0.
Yes!
Yes!
We did it!
We ran those bums
into the ground!
Hey, Dad smells beer in the
car, man, it's back to walking.
Or the bus.
Oh no, not the bus, man!
Look what you made him do.
You're crazy,
Ricardo, you know that?
Yes, I am crazy.
But that's not the point.
The point is that,
yes, we trashed it.
Yes, we're probably
going to get it.
But tonight we're heroes!
Hey, Lisa, think about it.
She likes you, man.
She likes you.
She likes everything about you.
Yeah, we're going
to a party after this.
All right, let's go!
Who's pumping the gas?
Somebody pump the gas, man.
OK, the bus.
Not the bus again.
Cars and women, man,
nothing but a headache.
Nothing but a problem.
Aich, look at that.
Nice car, man.
Not Bad, capital B.
You guys like her, huh?
She's clean.
You can have her, man.
You gonna fill it up?
No, man, you got a mechanic?
Yeah.
Let me talk to him, OK?
Left at 6 o'clock.
Be back tomorrow at 8:30.
Gracias, senior, man.
Hey, you guys know
anything about cars, huh?
This boy.
Little.
Oh yeah?
A little, huh?
What about, oh,
let's say $100, huh?
If you fix the car, huh?
Hey, you got a deal.
- Man, you quick, huh?
- Yeah.
You better open the door for me.
Yeah, I'll get you
coffee if you want.
You know what
you're doing, right?
Yeah, start it up.
Cut it.
Cut it!
Man?
Try it again.
Cut!
Sorry, man.
It... this... she looks fried.
You're a genius, huh?
You keep the $100, all right?
Hey.
Man?
You keep the $100, OK?
- You sure?
- Course he's sure.
What you talking about?
Hey, man, you keep it.
And you know, maybe you
can give us a ride, OK?
OK.
All right, man.
V monos, man, let's
get out of here.
Let's go get some more beer.
My car's right here, man.
Six to one he runs it.
What would you
call that, partner?
Rolling stop, shall we?
This is 381.
We're code 6 with
a Chevy Impala,
license 1 Paula
Charlie Edward 421.
Boyle Heights, corner of
Stone Court and Overhill.
Roger 381.
Come on, sonny, just
tell him who your dad is.
Hello, officer.
Can I take a look
at your license?
Yes, sir.
You see that stop sign
back there, Antonio?
Uh, no sir, no I didn't.
You're not legally
blind, are you?
No.
No sir, I'm not.
Well, them I'm going
to give you a ticket.
Let me see your registration.
Yes, sir.
You been drinking, Antonio?
No sir, not me.
OK, everybody, out of the car.
Hey, we're coming out, man!
Don't shoot, please!
Get out!
Let me see those hands!
- Come on, man.
Don't shoot.
We didn't do nothing.
Don't shoot.
- Over there!
Don't shoot.
Lay down, arms and
legs spread, now!
Keep those arms out!
Both officers went down.
Who was it?
Conrad and Bennett.
Conrad's dead, and
Bennett looks bad.
And we've got three
dead suspects.
We don't know what
the hell happened.
OK, put a man on the black
and white, one on the Chevrolet.
Seal off the entire area.
Set up search teams.
Do a complete sweep.
If you find anything,
don't touch it.
Put a man on it.
And everybody get a log start.
- Right.
You know, when
we got here, there
were a dozen guys back there.
Now there's two dozen.
One thing we sure don't
need is a major 415.
We're going to need the
whole damn watch to cover this.
Well, let's piece the
scene together, huh?
What are his chances?
He's lost a lot of blood.
We thought he was
dead when we got here.
- Where's his badge?
- I don't know.
I never saw it.
You ride with him
to the hospital.
If he says anything, write it
down, and get it back to me
immediately.
Understand?
- Yes, sir.
- Hunter?
Yeah.
This kid's still alive.
Damn shame.
Knock that off.
Put him in the wagon
along with Bennett.
Yes, sir.
Sergeant?
Sergeant.
Sandra Browning, KCPY News.
Yeah, hi, how you doing?
The officer says
you're in charge sure.
Sure am.
Is it true that the boys shot
here this evening were unarmed.
Listen, I don't have the time.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Sergeant.
Sergeant, are you aware
that two of the boys
were shot in the back while
lying face down on the ground?
Was this an execution?
You want to tell him
to shut that off for me?
You haven't answered
my question, Sergeant.
Miss Browning,
you're interfering
with the police officers'
investigation of a homicide.
If you continue
to harass me, I'm
going to arrest you and him.
My opponent wants you to
think of me as a Chicano.
Well, since I am, this
is one time he's right.
He would like you to believe
that I have special interests,
Chicano interests, the
illiteracy of our young people,
crime, unemployment.
But these are not issues
confined to the Barrio.
They transcend the
boundaries of race,
yet my opponent refuses
to address them.
Perhaps he can afford not to.
The people of this city cannot.
Together, on election day,
we can make a difference.
Thank you.
Speak to you, sir.
There's a problem.
Your son's been taken
to the hospital.
Sir, it was a
reporter who called.
He saw Tony wheeled in.
That's all.
Come on.
Someone definitely
left here standing up.
Yeah, that explains Bennett's
missing gun and badge.
Also explains the ancient
police proverb that where
there's press, there's brass.
I just talked to the hospital.
That young Hispanic had
taken in with Bennett
was councilman Elandro's son.
Needless to say, with
the Elandro involved,
things are going
to get very sticky.
You two are going to have
to do a thorough job.
Well, commander, we always
do a thorough job, regardless
of whose son is involved.
Whether you like it
or not, this department
is now on display.
The press is going to have
a field day with this.
Two unarmed Hispanics
shot in the back
by white police officers.
I don't have to tell
you that community
relations in this part of town
are strained enough as it is.
I'll be sure to tell
that to Conrad's wife.
Get that under
control, Sergeant.
Now where you running to?
You're such a big target.
I tell you every time, man.
It don't hurt no more.
It just... it feel like
I got air condition.
Compadre, I am dying.
You've got to get
me to a hospital.
Be reasonable, amigo.
I can't take you to a hospital.
You can't leave me here, man.
If they find you alive,
you'll tell them everything.
Please.
Ai, Benito, it's
funny, huh, after all
the things we've been through,
for it to come to this.
No.
No...
Councilman do you
think your son's shooting
was racially motivated?
Do you have any
comments, Councilman?
- What?
- Your son is near death.
Will it affect your campaign?
Excuse me.
Councilman, is there anything
that you want to say about...
All right, Evelyn.
Keep us posted on
that, would you?
Hey, we're at the hospital.
Thank you.
Well, we've received two more
bomb threats at the station,
and they have burned, in fact,
two more black and whites.
We had an entire
watch out there.
Have Bowen declare
a tactical alert.
Councilman, I've arranged
for a room where we can talk.
Won't be necessary, commander.
What happened?
Your son was pulled over
for a moving violation.
Apparently, he and
the other two suspects
were shot accidentally.
Suspects.
Suspected of what?
Well, we don't have
all the facts yet.
Why is it every time a
Chicano goes for his wallet,
he's gunned down by some
frightened policeman?
That's just not the case.
I want to see my son.
Commander, we understand
you want a riot on your hands.
What can you tell us?
No, no, we don't have a riot.
We're not even close to a riot.
What we have here is a
misunderstanding, apparently.
Yes, my son was
just brought in here.
His name is Antonio Elandro.
Yes, Councilman.
He's an ICU.
Intensive care?
Yes.
Well, do know how
serious his injuries are?
No, I'm sorry.
I don't.
But Dr. Eller will
come out and talk
to you just as soon as he can.
In the meantime, is there
anything I can do for you?
No.
Well, why don't you have a seat
in our waiting room over there.
Thank you.
Dr. Elias
to emergency room, stat.
Dr. Elias to
emergency room, stat.
Volunteer to main lobby.
Volunteer to main lobby.
His father is over
there waiting for you.
Councilman Elandro?
Yes.
I'm Dr. Eller.
Oh, uh, my son... how is he?
I'm afraid there's
nothing we could do.
Oh, no.
The bullet entered his chest,
and his heart and his left lung
were irreparably damaged.
We did everything possible.
OK.
Uh, may I see him?
Yes, of course.
Ai, Antonio.
Ai, mijo.
They won't get away
with this, Tony.
I swear to you.
I won't rest until they pay
for what they've done to you.
Ai.
Remember, you're
not the first team.
You're support.
So make sure you coordinate
your sweep with the units
already on the scene.
Now, Rawlings is in
charge of sector one,
is in two, is in three,
and Seneca, you got four.
Make sure your men have masks.
We had to use gas and some
it's still floating around.
Be careful.
It's a very volatile
situation out there.
I cannot emphasize that enough.
Now, we want our presence
felt out there, but remember,
you're targets, so watch your
backs, all right OK, take off.
We have something, Charlie.
A report came in
a couple of hours
ago there was gunfire down
near the river, about a mile
away from the shooting.
And they found this
guy, Benito..
He was shot twice, although
we have three witnesses that
claim they only heard one shot.
So you think he was wounded
before he got to the river?
Yeah, there's no
way the guy could
have gotten there by himself.
Now, had a known
associate, a Santiago Munez.
They're Marielitos.
They were serving a murder
prison term in Havana
when Castro sent them over
here as part of the amnesty
deal back in '80.
They did a six year stretch
in a Texas penitentiary
for armed robbery, and
for the last two years,
they've been working
strong arm for Louie
Garrison in Las Vegas.
Where'd you get all this stuff?
Las Vegas police.
Garrison's dead.
Munez shot him today in an
argument in bar at 12:30.
There were witnesses,
but Munez got away.
And you know it only takes five
hours to get here from Vegas.
What do these two have
to do with those kids?
We don't know.
Can you place Munez and
at the scene of the shooting.
No.
The blood we found outside
the kid's car on the ground
is the same type as,
but we can't prove it's his.
What about
fingerprints on the car?
Nothing.
Now, Canio was wearing
gloves, perhaps Munez was also.
Oh, nobody's going to believe
this story unless you find
Munez and some physical
evidence to put
him at the scene of the crime.
Bennett just got out of surgery.
He's stable.
Thank god.
Bowen?
Yes, sir.
Have Henderson bring
me down a cot, will you?
You've got it.
Put out an APB on Munez.
You find him, we
have a chance to get
this thing under control.
Oh, no.
Don't you people ever sleep?
Come on, Sporty.
Let me in.
It's important.
Gimme a handle on
this guy, McCall.
Las Vegas police says he likes
fast cars and flashy women,
and sometimes he
steals them both.
What's he into?
Shooting cops.
Last night, Boyle Heights.
That's right.
He even stole one of the
officer's badge and gun.
But I can't figure it.
What was he doing
with Elandro's boy?
Sporty, if I find
him, I'll ask him.
Let me tell you something.
If you find this
guy, I guarantee you
that the chief is going to
give you a medal personally.
No, no, no, McCall.
That is the kind of notoriety
I will go to my grave avoiding.
But for you, I'll get the
word out before breakfast.
All right, ladies and
gentlemen, the councilman
won't be answering
any questions.
Please, please, no
questions right now.
Please.
He'll be making a
statement momentarily.
Ladies, please.
Last night, three
outstanding young men
were killed in cold blood.
One of them was my son.
Hi.
Hi.
Get in.
Oh, hey, you
didn't get no offer.
I didn't do nothing.
Either you get in or
I come out and get you.
I thought I knew every
vice cop west of Pomona.
Got a new one now, baby.
This tragedy is not mine alone.
The Barrio is a
troubled community.
Our young people are
our hope for the future.
Last night that future was put
in doubt by the sound of police
gunfire, a sound heard
all too frequently
in the Hispanic community.
I make this pledge to the
memory of Ricardo, ,
Angel, my son, Antonio,
and all those whose efforts have
elected me to public office.
I will fight... excuse me...
I will fight until
the institution
responsible for their deaths
is brought to justice.
OK, Mr. Elandro,
do you have any idea
at all what your son could
have been doing last night?
That's a strange question.
You don't know what he was
doing, and yet you killed him.
Look, we think
that there was two
armed fugitives in
the car with him
when he was pulled
over last night.
Now, our preliminary
report shows that your son
was shot by accident.
Fugitives.
Yes.
Do you really expect
me to believe that?
Now, just... just a minute.
Tell me Sergeant, how do you
think two fugitives ended up
in that car with my son and
his friends on their way home
from a soccer game?
I mean, do you have anything
to back up that statement?
No.
I don't know.
But please, don't forget.
A police officer is dead.
Another one is near death.
Oh, please.
Please.
I've got a 17-year-old son lying
in the morgue with that cop's
bullet in his chest!
First you kill my son.
Now you come here with
some makeshift story.
But what's the... why?
What, to help you justify it?
Mr. Elandro, we're
just trying to find
the truth in this thing.
The truth?
Yeah, the truth?
Does that scare you?
Oh, just... just get out.
Look, Mr. Elandro,
you cannot continue
to make speeches like that to
rile the people of the city up.
It's not going to
bring your son back.
Get out.
Please, get out.
Get out.
Come on.
Come on.
Put it down.
I told you I told you to
stay away from that phone.
Didn't I, huh?
Don't you ever listen?
Huh?
Now listen, and listen good.
I'm going out on
business, police business.
If you even look out a
window, when I get back,
I'll rip your heart out.
You know I will, don't you?
You be a good little muchacha
and maybe when I come back,
we play house some more, huh?
Ai, mami.
Honey, huh?
Don't forget, huh?
No peeky out the window, huh?
NEWS REPORTER: An estimated 500
rioters battle policemen last
night after the tragic shooting
death of three unarmed
Hispanic teenagers
by two members of the metro PD.
One of the boys was Councilman
Michael Elandro's son.
The three youth were buried
today at St. Agnes cemetery
where more than
100 mourners joined
the parents of the slain boys.
Councilman Elandro
made a formal request
to the district
attorney to initiate
a grand jury investigation
into the shooting.
The police model
to protect and serve
must be transformed from
paint on the outside
of a city patrol car
to something the police
feel in their hearts.
They must be accountable.
At the moment, the
streets of Boyle Heights
are quiet after last
night's conflict.
How long they'll remain that way
in light of Elandro's charges
and the police
department's inability
to explain the shootings
is anyone's guess.
Turn it off.
And on the lighter side
of the news today,
there hasn't been a pit
bull attack in eight weeks.
After your visit to
the councilman's office
this morning, I'm
holding you responsible
for his uncooperative attitude.
Tact and diplomacy are part
of a professional image.
Or didn't you know that?
No, I knew that, commander.
But I have a murder case
to solve, and in doing so,
I suggest you walk the line.
One more insensitive
move and we could
have a riot that
makes last night's
riot look like a picnic.
Commander Kane, would
you like for us to...
What I would like
is for all press
inquiries and all information to
be channeled through my office.
I believe that was my last
directive, wasn't it, Captain?
Yes sir, it was.
Now that the councilman
has asked for a grand jury
investigation,
all the facts must
be treated as confidential.
No one but me makes
any statements.
Know
You know, it really is too bad
he failed his fireman's test.
Don't make waves, Hunter.
Hey, you know what
they say down the beach,
don't you, Charlie?
No waves, no ride.
Excuse me, sir.
I'm looking for the officer
in charge of the murders
in Boyle Heights.
Sergeant Hunter?
Yeah.
A couple of guys in a Corvette
broke down in my station
last night.
- Mhm.
They spoke Spanish.
I think... I think
they were Cuban.
Those kids that got
killed in Boyle Heights...
They were there, too.
They gave the guys from
the Corvette a ride.
Does that look like them?
Yeah, I think that's them.
You think that's them.
Sit down.
I want to talk to you.
What are you talking about?
Commander gave specific
orders not to talk to Elandro.
You give Kane a reason,
he'll suspend you.
Look, if Elandro understands
how his son wound up in that car
with Munez, perhaps
he'll help keep
the people off the streets.
All right, maybe I
ought to go with you.
No, no, no, no.
I'll go alone.
This way if Elandro
doesn't listen to me,
there'll be somebody
left to work this case.
OK, look.
I'll go over to SID and
see if they have anything
off of Munez's Corvette.
And if you get
something, call me.
See?
See?
You're safe.
So if you see that sucker,
you let me know, OK?
All right.
Ow!
Hello, ladies.
How's business?
You still interested
in that dude
you told me about this morning?
You got something?
I know you remember what you
promised me now, don't you?
Do I look like an
amnesiac to you, woman?
I'm just making sure, you
know, because last time I...
Hey, hey, everybody
knows that Sporty James
always makes good on his deals.
Now what you got for me?
OK.
Go ahead.
Tell him what you told me.
Guy with a badge picked
me up this morning.
A cop?
I don't think so.
You and me gonna make a
little phone call, mama.
Uh, you got a quarter?
Have anything yet, Reuben?
We've lifted a few prints,
but nothing that matches
Elandro's kid or his friends.
What about Munez?
Deedee, if he was in this
car, he was wearing gloves.
Reuben?
I think I got a new one.
Give me the tape.
It's different, all right.
Index cards, please?
No, next.
It's a match.
Whose is it?
Elandro's son.
L56, L56, come in, please.
This is L57.
L56, go ahead.
Hunter, Elandro's son was
definitely at the gas station.
Reuben just pulled a set of his
prints right off Munez's hood.
Good work, partner.
I'll call you later.
L56 out.
Sir, you can't go in
without an appointment.
Please, sir.
- I do understand that.
I'd like to talk to
you just for a second.
What in the hell do
you think you're doing?
After his soccer game, your
son went to a gas station.
There he met two men.
He gave them a ride.
He did not know that they
were armed fugitives.
Now, the gas station attendant
was a witness to that.
Your son was just
being a good Samaritan.
Well, I appreciate your
bringing me this dubious bit
of information, Sergeant,
but that still does
not account for what happened.
My son was unarmed
when he was shot.
His two friends were lying
face down on the ground
when they were
shot, in the back.
Now, have you an
explanation for that?
No, I don't.
Not yet.
I'm working on that.
This was not police brutality.
And I'll bet you when
we look into this,
it had nothing to do with race.
You've got to be more
responsible for what you're
telling people out there.
You're inciting a riot.
Now, nobody can change
what has happened.
We can't bring your son
back, unfortunately.
But you do have the
power to change things.
You can keep things
from getting worse.
What would your son want?
He would want to be alive.
Sergeant McCall?
There's a Sport James
on the phone for you.
It's over there.
Thanks.
Yeah, Sporty?
Where have you been?
I have been looking all
over creation for you.
Do you have something for me?
- I
- think I have found Munez.
Where?
He is at an apartment
on Crenshaw and Baltic.
Thanks.
L56, this is L90.
We're all set.
We got a land line
open to the station.
Here he comes.
Let her go!
Drop it!
Drop it, or or she dies!
Drop it.
Come on.
Move it back.
Get down!
Ow!
Which way did he go?
Took off down the street.
He's got a gun.
This is L56.
All units, I have a 187 suspect,
last seen on foot at Crenshaw
Boulevard, headed for Baltic.
Hispanic male wearing
blue sports coat,
considered armed and dangerous.
L56 out.
Get in.
I lost him.
Put a 10 block
perimeter on this place
and get an area unit in here.
How's Bowen?
Took in a lot of water,
but he'll be all right.
What happened?
I was right on his
tail and I lost him.
Maybe he stole a car.
No, he didn't have time.
A damn bus.
ID this guy.
What is this, a cop convention?
I'm looking for a Latino
man with a blue sport
coat, got on a ways back.
- The other bop?
- Yeah, the other cop.
Where'd he get off?
Back there at 43rd and Fig.
I think he headed for
the motel on the corner.
Yeah, $12 an hour, $36 all day.
Looking for a Latino
man in a blue sport coat.
You seen him?
He's here, but he ain't here.
What does that mean?
That means he's in
14, but he ain't in 14.
So where is he?
He said he wanted
a bottle of booze,
so I sent him over there.
I watched him walk down
there about five minutes ago.
OK, thanks.
He went into that little
market over there.
I'm going in.
Call the cavalry.
Watch your rear.
I'll get there as soon as I can.
Freeze!
Police!
That is why I thought it
important that I come here
to police headquarters,
in order to express
my sincere hope that together
we can stop these riots.
Councilman, don't you
think that just about
ends the possibility of
your being elected mayor?
After all, the majority
of your support
comes from the
Hispanic community,
a community outraged
by the very people
you seem to be apologizing to.
Well, in this
case, Ms. Padrosa,
an apology would
not be out of order.
Councilman, I find
it strange that you
would choose this
particular district
to make that sort of statement.
Are you apologizing
to the people
responsible for
your son's death?
Apparently, Ms.
Browning, you were
not listening to what I said.
My son picked up two
hardened criminals.
These men were responsible for
my son's death and the shooting
of two police officers,
one of whom is dead,
and the other in
critical condition.
This is not, I repeat,
not a race issue.
And I'm here to make that clear.
Councilman...
Just... just please.
I vowed after my son's
death to find the truth.
Those who seek the
truth and find it
must be prepared to face it.
I'd rather lose this
election than promote
a lie that would lead to
more violence and bloodshed.
Thank you.
One more question, Councilman...
Well, that just about ends
a promising political career.
Maybe.
Dr. Marler,
please call the operator.
Dr. Marler, please
call the operator.
Councilman.
Well, hell, Sergeant.
I want to thank you for
the speech made last week.
I wish I could have been there.
Well, you didn't miss anything.
I did what I had to do.
I just, uh, told them the facts.
I understand you've gone
up six points in the polls.
How about that?
And I thought I was
committing political suicide.
But you didn't.
Thanks again.
Thank you.
Remember to vote.
So what do you think
your stuff is, anyway?
It's spinach.
It's creamed spinach.
This is good for you.
This will give you strength.
It'll make you
get better faster.
It has iron in it.
Hi, group.
Hey.
Hey, Hunter.
Hi, Bennett.
How you doing?
OK.
You know who was
just here to see me?
Our next mayor,
Councilman Elandro.
Oh, yeah.
Pretty good, huh?
Oh, I got your
badge back for you.
How about that?
Congratulations.
That's great, Hunter.
Thanks a lot.
Yeah, when you
getting out of here?
Three days, with good behavior.
And good nutrition.
Do what the doctor says and
eat your spinach, all right?
We gotta go.
See you later.
Good luck.
Adios.
I'm glad he's feeling better.
Feeling better?
How could you feel better
eating that garbage food?
If I had to rely on getting
better in this hospital
eating that food,
I'd be in the morgue.
What are you talking about?
The hospital plans a nutritional
meal like that for you
to eat so you'll get better.
Let me tell you
something about planning
a nutritional meal.
They don't know
what they're doing
in hospitals nutritionally.
Is that right?
Well, what would you
serve, Mexican food?
Well, let me tell you
something, Ms. Weisenheimer.
I knew a guy who was
dumb enough to ride
his daughter's skateboard.
He broke both bones
in his lower leg.
We tied a jalepeno pepper behind
his name and he got better.