The Los Angeles Parking Enforcement cop who took the now infamous photos of L.A. Laker Andrew Bynum allegedly parking in a disabled spot, is speaking out for the first time, exclusively to NBC4LA.
For the original NBC4 exclusive report click here.
"His message is 'screw you,' I'm Andrew Bynum and I can do whatever I want," said the cop, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution.
The cop was off-duty, shopping at the Bristol Farms market in Westchester, when Bynum was allegedly seen parking his black BMW in a disabled spot, and partly in a spot reserved for the unloading of the disabled.
When Bynum was leaving the store, the cop walked to the door and watched him loading groceries into his car.
"He appeared fine, normal, like anybody else putting groceries in their car. And I looked and he didn't have a placard," says the parking enforcement cop.
Under state law, it's illegal to park in handicapped spots unless you have a disabled placard or plate, which NBC4 confirmed Bynum does not have.
"It's a big slap in the face to someone that's disabled. It's saying, 'I don't care about you. I only care about myself,'" says the official.
The officer was off-duty and didn't have a ticket book to write a citation. So the officer snapped pictures of Bynum and his allegedly illegally parked car, and gave them to NBC4, hoping to make the point that illegal use of disabled parking is wrong.
"I know there are a lot of young Laker fans out there. What kind of role model is that? Maybe children will grow up to think, 'If Anderw Bynum does it, maybe I'm entitled to do that too," says the cop.
NBC4 asked the LA Lakers spokesman to comment on the Bynum photos. He said the NBA has ordered them not to talk about any players, because of the current lockout. We also called Bynum's agent twice to get comment, but didn't hear back from him.
