The gang member who got his face stomped in by an El Monte police officer will get an extreme makeover before his $5-million trial against the city, says his Photoshop-wielding attorney.
Richard Rodriguez, 23, of El Monte, led police on a high-speed pursuit May 13, after they tried to stop his vehicle for a traffic violation. After crashing his car and fleeing on foot from police, Rodriguez was cornered in a back yard. He surrendered to police, who proceeded to kick his head and beat him with a flashlight. The whole thing was caught on tape.
On Thursday, Rodriguez's attorney, Nick Pacheco, filed a $5-million legal claim against the city.
But -- as any good attorney will tell you -- being covered in gang tattoos garners little sympathy in the courtroom.
So it's time for Rodriguez to get a makeover, The Los Angeles Times reported:
...the attorney said his heavily tattooed client will be getting an extreme makeover in time for a trial, complete with a thick Tom Selleck mustache -- think "Magnum P.I." -- to cover the name of his street gang, which is inked on his upper lip. Richard Rodriguez will also grow hair to cover the tattoos on his shaved head. And he'll wear a nice, conservative suit.
To make his point, Pacheco used Photoshop to show the difference.
In the booking photo, Rodriguez's head is shaved, and the name of his gang hangs over his lip. Tattoos climb his neck. In the "after" rendition, he's wearing a black suit with a metallic gray tie, neatly combed hair and a lush mustache.
"People get past looks when you put on a suit and your hair is grown," Pacheco told the newspaper.
Local
Pacheco's right -- thanks to Photoshop, Rodriguez looks like a million bucks.
Err, make that five million bucks.
