City pays $25,000 in assault case

Mary A. Castillo

The City of Huntington Beach paid $25,000 to a resident who alleged he

was assaulted by an off-duty Huntington Beach police officer.

Kristopher Scotten, 21, claims Officer Edmond Kennedy kicked and

punched him on July 20, 2000.

The incident started when Scotten honked his horn and shouted an

insult at the officer as he drove past the Kennedy’s home, said Neal

Moore, an attorney for the city. Kennedy called the Police Department,

then followed Scotten to a Pizza Hut where he attempted to arrest him.

Scotten shoved the officer and a fight ensued. Scotten was later arrested

but was not charged, by the district attorney’s office, with using

offensive words in a public place and resisting arrest.

It was not the only case of brutality leveled against Kennedy, nor was

it the officer’s first run-in with Scotten.

In August 1999, Scotten had been asked by Kennedy to turn down his car

stereo. When the young man refused, the officer appealed to Scotten’s

mother, said Moore. After that incident, Scotten made it a point to blast

his car radio while playing a rap song with derogatory lyrics about

police whenever he happened to he drove by Kennedy’s home. Scotten was

arrested for disturbing the peace and pleaded guilty to those charges on

Oct. 27, 1999.

Kennedy was disciplined by the Department for the incident with

Scotten and a second, unrelated incident with Adam McClain. Kennedy

denies any wrongdoing and is appealing the disciplinary actions.

The Huntington Beach Police Department declined to comment, said Sgt.

Gary Meza.