Brown

INTRODUCTION

A jury rejected plaintiff and appellant Derrick Brown’s claim that defendant and respondent Los Angeles Police Department Officer Jerome Knopp committed a battery by a police officer against Brown by using unreasonable force to arrest him, to prevent his escape, or to overcome his resistance.1 The trial court entered judgment for Officers Knopp and Lambarth and defendant and respondent the City of Los Angeles. Brown appeals and we affirm.

BACKGROUND

About 4:30 a.m. on September 22, 2007, Officer Knopp and his partner Officer Lambarth responded to a radio broadcast concerning a screaming woman and a possible domestic violence incident at the Days Inn on Ventura Boulevard. The officers arrived at the Days Inn in less than 30 seconds and went to room 207 on the second floor. The door was open, and the officers entered. The room was messy—items were turned over, discarded on the floor, or out of place. When Officer Knopp entered the room the first thing he noticed was blood everywhere. There was blood on the walls and carpet and the bed sheets were soaked with blood. Officer Knopp had never before seen such a “massive quantity of blood.” Brown’s girlfriend Valentina…