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A man who was seen on video being thrown to the ground and kicked in the head after a confrontation along a Southern California freeway has been arrested because of an earlier road rage incident.
A passing motorist captured cell phone video along Interstate 5 in Los Angeles on June 12 of Jerry Patterson of Palmdale, Calif., being beaten by two other men until he was unresponsive. The video shows Patterson, 49, shouting with three men, and then rolling up his sleeves and balling his hands. Then, two of men push Patterson down, kick and punch him, and drive off with the third man as Patterson lay motionless on the ground.
On Thursday, Patterson was arrested for a different skirmish that happened last month: California Highway Patrol told NBCLosAngeles.com that on May 25, Patterson had been involved in a hit-and-run collision in Long Beach that led to a fight.
Read more, see video on NBCLosAngeles.com
James Poole told NBCLosAngeles.com he witnessed the hit-and-run, and followed Patterson on his motorcycle. Patterson pulled over about a mile later and the two began arguing, said Poole, of Belmont Shore.
"I wouldn't let him get back in his car. First I demanded his driver license number and a lot of people started seeing us yelling and screaming at each other. I was looking at his driver license when he hit me," Poole said.
Poole said he walked away from the altercation with two black eyes.
"The three things I do recall he said during our discussion was the fact that he saved millions of Americans' lives, he's on a mission with the FBI, and to let him go," Poole said. There is cell phone video of the altercation.
Patterson was booked on suspicion of DUI, hit and run, and battery, according to the full police report.
Patterson didn't show up for his June 5 court date, so police issued an arrest warrant for him the following day. On Thursday morning, police arrested Patterson for failing to appear at the arraignment.
Patterson's sister told the station in a phone interview that her brother is "a very good guy. We support him 300 percent."
"These two incidents are isolated," his sister, who was not identified, said. "He's a good guy. He helps dogs and senior citizens. We don't know what is happening. Maybe he's just having a bad month. He's a good man."
Assailants seen in video arrested
Meanwhile, video of the June 12 incident prompted an investigation by the California Highway Patrol. The men accused of beating Patterson were arrested and identified as Edras Ramirez, 27 and David Mendez, 21. They turned themselves in on Wednesday night, and are scheduled to be arraigned at some point on Friday, according to the CHP.
Earlier this week, before his arrest, Patterson told NBCLosAngeles.com the confrontation began after he accidentally cut off the suspects. The men then followed him for about five miles and threw things at his vehicle before they stopped in front of him, Patterson said.
"In 20/20 hindsight, I probably should have called the police," said Patterson, who told NBCLosAngeles.com he suffered a concussion. "I'm just not that kind of person. I didn't think in my wildest dreams it would escalate to where it went to. ... It was just a fight. You win some, you lose some. ... I don't remember much of that."
Read more of the interview with Patterson on NBCLosAngeles.com
The video of the fight was posted and later removed from YouTube, but is still live on a site called LiveLeak.com.
Emeal Age, the driver who captured the video, told NBCLosAngeles.com he didn't want to risk getting hurt by stepping in to try to stop the brawl.
"I didn't think it was going to escalate to this," Age said. "I didn't want to jeopardize what I have going on in my life for a situation like that. So I just made the best deicision and all I could do was get it on camera for him."
The video clearly showed the assailants' faces, and captured their license plate, as well. The third man seen in the assailants' car is not being pursued by police, said The Los Angeles Times.
Read more from the man who took the video on NBCLosAngeles.com
CHP Sgt. Denise Joslin said it was wise of Age not to get involved.
"The ideal situation would have been that these individuals didn't engage in the type of conduct they did," Joslin told NBCLosAngeles.com. "We all know of good Samaritans out there, but I don't necessarily recommend getting involved in a incident like this. We don't know the capability of the individuals involved. We don't know if the individuals are armed."
When the assailants drove off, Age and another man are seen rushing over to Patterson, trying to help him up. By the time emergency personnel arrived at the scene, Patterson was gone. He told NBCLosAngeles.com he drove himself home.
Patterson, a mortgage consultant and father of three, was to be booked at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station, according to CHP.
His bond was forfeited and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Chet L. Taylor issued a bench warrant for $50,000.
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Interesting as it looks like a clash of road rage participants. When you have no respect for yourself or others and take that to the street this is what you get regardless of who you are or what you do for a living.
Where is jack-ass Al Sharpton and company? Usually they are right there screaming for the color card.
Looks like I'm going to have to revise my dictionary. Victim. n. Someone who starts a fight they can't finish.
Goes to show the dog with the loudest bark is not the dog with the biggest or hardest bite.
Yeah, We need more people like this man to be involved and help clean up our streets from the people who are a harm to the community.
What's the scale a 1000.........that would make it only 30%
Did the "victim" really think the other two guys were just going to stand there while he engaged the third guy in a fight? Stupid is as stupid does. One incident can happen to anyone. Although he seems to be the aggressor in both incidents. Two incidents is a jerk wanting to have it explained to him. He was just lucky he wasn't beaten to death, crippled or shot. Those kicks to the head look deadly.
Yea because by their names it's obvious they were white hispanic's
LOL! Get his butt kicked days after assaulting another driver...
Karma Happens!
subliminal,
Maybe the hispanic guys can get George Zimmerman to give their account for them, you know kinda of like an eyewitness who didn't eye witness anything.
Hey Subliminal,
Did you know that if you keep observing how people keep observing things as playing "the color card" that you are, in fact, "playing the color card"; true story. Only one here who had to bang that drum was YOU!
Sorry about your limbic brain.
Too bad they're not all dead.
With that logic, your statement means you are playing the color card.
White Hispanic? I never heard this term until the Travon Martin Shooting. For the love of G-d stop using this term. Next it will be white african american for people of mixed races, white Japanese, white Phillipino, white black when does it stop? it's friggin retarded! It looks like an attempt to inflame racial tension. people use these terms to distract from the issue and somehow try to blame bad ole whitey for da troubles of da world. Everybody knows mean ole Mr. Whitey is the problem here in America and da sooner he be gone da betta.
here's a crazy idea, next time take the plate number and dial 911
What I do not understand is why did the vagina with camera not try to help? I understand he started it but still you should have intervened. My screen name says it all!
Stupid is as stupid does.
With Rodney King recently dead.
Some one had to pick up the flag and continue the crusade.
ahulh8er , The guy with the camera was smart not to get involved. He didn't know what would happen and what if he was 60 years old with diabetes or some other illness or was responsible for taking care of his family? Getting killed for over some jerks in a road rage fight would be stupid. Go ahead and jump into unknown situations and when you are pushing up daisies you can say "see I helped". Oh, that's right, dead men tell no tales.
It's a shame that in America in the year 2012 all people can see is skin color.
I didnt even think of theyre skin color,the guy who got beat up was winning until two others stepped in.Cowards. Here in Arizona we dont have this problem,anyone with a brain figures the other guy has a gun.Plus i dont see any reason to get all uptight on the road.
people watch the video he threw the first punch then a kick which i a felony by the way stupid people!!! who belief what they see...well u bunch of dumbies he threw the first punch got his ass kicked WHAT HE DESERVED and then the press sent out the story oooohh poor black man got beat down by thugs....thugs they were... all involved... even as i watched the video for the first time i said he got what he had coming...then low and behold here he is involved in another incident with the same issue...theres a surprie...if he reads this come to my house i will sraighten out his anger issue once again!!!!!!!!!!! just me...
Ha-ha, 300 percent; that's inner city math for you. Well said, Subliminal. Funny how all the morons are NOW saying that you mentioning the color card (race card), have found a more convenient way to keep using it by accusing you of that very same crime. Do as they say, not as they do, I guess. Typical.
@rbjk0174s
If there are 3 people and they each support him 100% does the inner city math now make sense? Nothing is absolute. Good on Poole
wonder what percentage of...a butt whoop'n he deserved ...i'm think'n 100%...
The stupidity of every person involved is unbelievable! First of all, this is the 2nd incident this month that the VICTIM has been involved in. In both incidents he cut someone else off. Secondly, somewhere in one of these reports I read or heard that he was a martial arts expert. Anyone involved in martial arts will tell you that you do not initiate violence and in the video HE pushed up his sleeves, HE kicked (and not very gracefully for a 'martial arts expert) first. And these guys who beat the crap out of him, SERIOUSLY? Kicking someone in the HEAD?! I will say that I respect the person who video taped not wanting to get involved. I'm sorry, yes, I think it is important to help people in need/danger, but not to endanger yourself. Who knows if they had a weapon. Better to get in on tape and have it for the police than step out of the car into this mess. And FINALLY, at the end of the video, the guy recording walks over, repeatedly tells the victim to get up and then takes his hand and pulls him up. One kick to the head, let alone several is enough to cause seriouse damage that could be made worse by movement. When someone is seriously (or even potentially) injured the best thing you can do is encourage them to stay still until help arrives. Wow, wow, wow, is there no hope at all for our future???????
Scott Tuchfarber, seems like you have bigger anger issues than any of the guys in the video. To go on a rant like you did, over a video in which you don't know anyone involved, and then to challenge Patterson to come over your house for a fight, on a comments thread where you're anonymous, please go get the help you need.
Patterson said he cut them off accidentally, they chased him for 5 miles and threw stuff at his car, they got in front of his car and stopped him, he apologized for cutting them off, the little guy with the shaved head was putting his fists up first ready to fight and Patterson obliged him. For this you think Patterson deserved to get beat unconscious by two guys, kicking him in the head while he was out on the ground? The one guy looked like he would have gotten his butt kicked if his friend didn't jump into the fight.
maybe he'll picked a fight with...a floriduh face eater next time...
And everyone wonders why I have my groceries delivered, I shop online, and rarely leave my property.
New cars should come with video cams and bull-horns - then we can just shout out that we are filming them... the tortoise shell defense option (for your car) will cost extra. If you can build yourself an escape bunker - then you should have a car that can take a few tank rounds, so you can get to your bunker.
Sounds like the big dude is a reckless driver, in my opinion, and this time he did it to a car with two guys as crazy and reckless as him. The only one with a brain was the one in the car who didn't get involved in the fight and the guy who took the video. Guess there's hope. As for the three involved in the fight I think all three need to be locked up.
When I was in high school I drove an '85 Ford Crown Victoria station wagon. It may be as close to the tortoise shell defense as you can get.
In case anyone does not know what that car looked liked-picture Chevy Chase's Wagon Queen Family Truckster minus 4 headlights and two tail lights.
Two incidents in one month, one where he was the clear perpetrator, the other where he tried to argue with multiple men...suggesting he very well was the aggressor. Sorry...anyone else in that situation dials 911 immediately or seeks help right away. He had plenty of time to do so...at least 5 miles as he claimed. Unless of course he was the aggressor and all the video caught was the end. Notice how he didn't show for his court date in the first incident? Yet the men who beat him turned themselves in...
By the way sister, I don't care if he helps seniors and dogs...he clearly has some issues when he is behind the wheel. Issues, if they are not corrected are going to get him killed or he is going to kill someone else. 300 percent? Why not 400 or 500? Silly statement.
He said that he accidently cut them off. I wondered if he tried to apologize. But we all know he didnt. His hit and run, and assault tells us that. Yank his liscense. We need to yank away peoples liscense more often.
Yeah, he's a good guy except when he's driving drunk and knockin' people out...
Patterson's sister told the station in a phone interview that her brother is "a very good guy. We support him 300 percent."
300 percent. Really?
If you're going to pick an impossible amount why not make it at least 1,000 percent or how about 1 million percent? 300 percent is pretty weak as far as fictional amounts of support go.
@pjam09- hahahahaha!
pjam09, I was thinking the same thing. Apparently delusional thinking runs in that family.
Give her a break, PJ; her brother is "having a bad month."
Maybe that's as high as she can count. Geesh..... I call for DAPWCC (disrcimination against people who can't count).
Maybe if she supported him 310% things would be better..
Frikkin hilarious....pjam, wayne, rkara, the punisher et al....frikkin hilarious, man you guys are better than those a$$es on TV...awesome
"I'm Big Joe Grizzly, bitch!!!"
I laughed at that too. "A very good guy"? Bullcrap. Actions speak louder then words and he acts like a bully and a person that shouldn't be driving.
100% is as far as percentage goes. she just wanted to reassure people that she is more than 100% sure. how many of you have done something that was so stupid that people who know you have to tell others about your character. you are so judgemental, self righteous, and color strong one way or another. i don't want to use the word racist because we are all from one human race. we are not species like plants or animals so stop with this color bs. one day all this will be over. white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, whatever you consider yourselves to be you will be buried from the mud that you were created from. you are made of matters that over time die and disappear. may god help us all.
Sounds like he is a pretty bad driver, not that he should be beaten for it but maybe they should remove his license before he ends up killing someone.
If he's so eager to fight he got just what he deserved.
Well said!
Good thing he doesn't live in Arizona. He would look down and see sunlight shining clear through his chest when he got out and tried to pick a fight. A couple 9mm Hydra Shocks tend to do that.
Lol Mike, I agree. If he's the one lookin to start a fight, he can't get all pissy when he gets what he deserves.
Yeah its amazing how polite everyone is when people tend to carry guns. People are to weird and stressed in traffic lately.Relax turn on the stereo and ac.
What goes around comes around.
ahhh, I dunno. This seems to be a case of what goes around gets knocked around.
As always...two sides to every story.
Until the Cops start dealing with these situations beforehand, this will continue. In Europe you go around people waiting at an exit ramp off the interstate you get a ticket, called cutting into the que (line). Not here. The mentality is if I have my turn signal on then I'm entitled to cut in. The mentality is to stop in your open lane holding everyone up because you have no clue what you are doing.
Also cops know when the light timing is not correct (NJ red light situation), but they just pass the buck and tell YOU to call the DOT. Long gone is the protection of safety, just they consider their job (barely) to do some sort of weak investigation after the fact and serve warrants.
By the same token, people can be incredibly rude in not letting you change lanes. When I turn out of where I work, I have about a block and a half to transfer over three lanes of traffic to make the last right-hand turn on that particular street. If I don't get over those three lanes in time and make the right-hand turn on to a side street, then I'm stuck in the rush of traffic headed towards the freeway on-ramp (often during rush hour)... from which I then have to get off at the next exit ramp, turn around and head back down the freeway just to get back on to the surface street where I was to begin with, and then make my turn (left, instead of right).
I ALWAYS turn on my blinker (never change lanes without it, folks--nobody's psychic, and they don't automatically know what you plan to do!), and I'll slow down or speed up given the traffic situation, and move over as safely as possible. Well, yesterday, someone deliberately zoomed up behind a car that I'd slowed down to get behind, leaving about a foot of space between their bumpers, just to DELIBERATELY keep me from switching lanes... which, as I had less than half a block before being forced to go on a highway, was beyond rude and was definitely going to force me on to the highway on-ramp.
So I had to bully my way over--NOT something I've EVER done before, but given that I have an eight-year-old truck, top-notch insurance and the "Fried Green Tomatoes" benefit on my side... "I'm older and I have more insurance"... I was willing to give it a go. And it worked! The driver hit his brakes and backed away from the car in front of him. That left me only about six car lengths' of space to then transfer out of that third line of traffic and in to that last right-hand turn lane before getting stuck in the freeway traffic. Thanks, buddy.
It was frightening and I never want to do that again, but it just goes to show that sometimes people can deliberately be a-holes.
StandUp - I had a cargo-less semi do this to me a week ago, on a street where construction forced two lanes into one. I had my blinker on, was 2 car lengths ahead of him, and he sped up just as I was getting over. Almost forced me to drive into the cones. I do not understand the mentality of "my road, not your road."
Incidentally, if it sounds like I'm the a-hole here... have you ever seen the morons that stop in traffic and just sit there, trying to switch lanes and waiting for an opening, which they have to JUMP for because they're at a standstill and traffic is moving? That would've been my only other alternative besides the freeway method, and I didn't want to be that idiot, either. I'd rather piss off one driver who asked for it than about twenty whizzing by.
I know what you mean about rude drivers. I often let people over or in. Most times, the courtesy isn't returned. And everyday I get behind somebody who thinks I'm psychic. It's ridiculous.
Stand-up, I hear your pain.
Folks, if your in a line of cars and someone is trying to get over intro the same line, let then what does it hurt, unless of course they slid by a whole bunch of other cars and try to get to the front. Otherwise, it should be one and one. First one person goes then the next, merging smoothly and you life will do so also.
Get a life folks, don't be an A-hole to folks just trying to get by in life, just like you.
So it's not just California drivers
This happened to me, the guy pulled up, wouldn't let me in (or couldn't tell, because he was on his cell phone) and I missed my exit, so I layed on the horn so that everybody knew, and gave him a thumbs up (for real thumbs up, not the bird). Well that got his attention fast, he ended up tailing me 6 miles to my house before turning off a side street in what I can only imagine as a route that was out of his way. He certainly showed me. Some people are 1. Jackasses who are completely selfish, or 2. Oblivious jackasses, who are completely selfish. Always remember to courtesy wave when someone let's you in, seems I'm the only one who does this anymore, which is sad.
It's always better to be driving an older truck !! when they try to cut you off or squeeze you out I just put my blinker on look them in the eye and turn !! they move !
Stand Up, I feel your pain, too. I moved to SoCal from Indiana, and it didn't take me long to figure out that what is considered courtesy and good driving back home (turn signal) considered a sign of weakness out here. What you're supposed to do is drift over, by way of warning, then bull your way in, and THEN when you're halfway across the line, THAT's when you signal. Also, you should always, always tailgate as much as possible, because if you leave a safe driving distance between cars, the a*holes take that as an invitation to weave in and out of traffic in front of you. Also, out here, if a left-turning driver and a right-turning driver are trying to turn onto the same street, the right-turning driver ONLY has the right of way until the light turns yellow, at which time all bets are off, and everybod better get the hell out of the way of the left-turning driver, and the two guys behind him, who turn left across traffic with a full-on red light. Sigh.
For some reason, that one car length is important to people. I guess that's why they tailgate. Gotta save that fraction of a second, to the point that they risk life and limb for it.
Cars cut off big rigs all the time.I try to give people a break figuring someone well do it for me in return.I thought california had good drivers.No problems moving over.
Skeptical, the problem was probably what happens ALL THE TIME IN CONSTRUCTION WHEN THE LANE NARROWS. People stay in the "closed" lane til the last minute (you were almost into the cones). Even though signs are posted warning people in advance about the merge ahead they don't take heed and try to "beat" everyone to the one lane road. This is usually the reason traffic gets backed up and causes delays. If you don't RACE to the arrow board and cone taper this wouldn't be an issue. I will EVERY TIME close the gap in front of me and avoid letting people merge in once we are past the initial ROAD CONSTRUCTION POSTED LANE CLOSED SIGNS. Those signs are posted at legal intervals for people to have time to merge, there is absolutely NO reason to wait til you get to the cones. I LOVE it when semis block both lanes so cars can't do this. Although I have heard of them getting tickets for this, but no tickets for the "I deserve to get in front of you" drivers. If I had contact with them, the semi drivers,I would do it myself. The traffic flows so much better when traffic merges while still out of the actual construction zone. I can't stand it when the "open" lane has to stop to let these people in.
I think he was the first aggressor in the video where he had his hiney kicked. He just wasn't prepared for his a&& whooping. You could see by his girly kicks ( never do that because they can grab your leg and it over for you) he has scrapped before. What a loser now I know why he didn't want to report his being thrashed to police.
@intimidator. I agree 100% although naturally MSNBC leaves this point out. He kicked at that dude 2 times and then threw a right punch at the guy. Then he got curbed!
"It was just a fight. You win some, you lose some"
yep, he been in more than one fight and sees nothing wrong with that
Karma took care of him before the police did.
At that point, two of men push Patterson down, kick and punch him, and then drive off with the third man as Patterson lays motionless on the ground.... OMG!!!!!!!! PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE TENSE ALL IN ONE SENTENCE AND OUT OF ORDER!!!!
You must be new.
seriously!
This is how these "reporters" work.
He did not accidentally cut off the two guys who beat him up. He did it intentionally. He has done it previously and was arrested for it.
justice served ...if you go through life with no care for your human relatives then the same shall be bestowed on you
What a jerk! He bit off more than he could chew when he tried to fight two guys. I hope they go easy on Ramirez and Mendez. It sounds like Patterson deserved the beating.
Dunno, they reportedly followed him for 5 miles after he cut them off, throwing stuff at his car and yelling at him.
He may have been an incredible imbecile by cutting them off, but following him for 5 miles and throwing stuff at him is just as dumb, and deliberately kicking him in the head while he's down after TWO guys managed to subdue him is just a d1ck move.
Both sides have plenty of idiocy to spare here...
he knew what he was in for when he raised his fists.
for those defending this pile of crap. he just beat up a cop in another altercation around a month ago. do you think these are the only 2 times this has happened? he was lucky to only get beat up. very lucky. especially in cali. at the very least he finally got what he had coming.
He Finnally got his MEDICINE!! Take it!
Other then flunking math, this is a loyal sister! Her brother, however, is not what he appears!
was all ok until they kicked him in head after he was unconscious. that is probably a bit too far
Kicking someone when they're down is assault with a deadly weapon (and not nice)
Fuktards who try to start fights deserve more than just a punch in the snoot. Rollin' your sleeves up ALONE is cause for a major beatdown. The ghay-ass attempt at a kick is, too. The only thing more hilarious than the sleeve roll or girlie kick is some idiot who rips his shirt completely off before a fight; those deserve to beaten into a coma.
ever had an altercation with a latino? or seen one? is it ever only one person who is involved? no. the only surprise is that he was not stabbed or shot. oh ya, that is racist. wait no, it is a fact.
"It was just a fight. You win some, you lose some ..." hilarious. Hey, buddy, you ought try russian roullete.
"It was just a fight. You win some, you lose some. ..." Hilarious. Hey buddy, you oughta try Russian Roullete!
This comment was so funny it had to be posted twice?
Hey Mikely
got stuck keys?
Sadly his supporter doesn't even understand that there is a max on percentages from 0-100 there is not a 300%, thus he must be guilty since she is adamant he is a good person and unable to stand behind him 300%, ignorance is bliss
And no one believes George Zimmerman's story... I hope his defense attorneys will be showing this at the trial.
Why would zimmer's attorny show this clip at the trial? Was that zimmer in the video?
Wow he helps dogs and senior citizens and he is also a loony tune.
they're all idiots
I don't know why, but this brings a smile to my face.
The most powerful delusion of all, self-delusion.
Nothing happens if James Poole calls the cops instead of taking matters into his own hands.
exactly liz it appears that no one has learned from zimmerboy. people need to stay in their lane(no pun intended). I've witnessed hit and runs and drove behind people got the plate number and let the POLICE ask for the dl#. WTF?
I actually know Jerry personally. Worked with him a few years back.
I'm very stunned by this and his behavior. He was ALWAYS a professional. Hes very popular in the Mortgage Industry and has always been a TOP Producer. I'm ashamed at this....
Must be stressed out from moonlighting at the FBI.
Road rage is a weird thing.....the most decent people in the world (including women) can have this sense of absolute rightousness when driving in their car, and when anyone does something that is out of line with what that driver expects and demands, they just go off.
I had a guy in my company who was pretty high up in management, was a really decent guy everyone loved, but he had a couple road rage incidents where he got himself arrested and put people's lives in danger just because someone had the nerve to drive in a way he found offensive.
Why are you ashamed? He's the one that probably gave 300% at work!