CBS

They were driving a Rolls-Royce but got anything but the royal
treatment from the Los Angeles Police Department. In a story only on CBS
2, why were the driver and passengers handcuffed and humiliated during a
bizarre stop in Hollywood? It's a question of conduct.

The call came out as a stolen car.

It was Saturday afternoon on Melrose Avenue, when LAPD officers pulled
over the white Rolls-Royce.

The stop was captured by a nearby store employee.

Kevork Kouyoumjian: "I'm like what going on. I didn't do anything wrong. He's like, 'just get out of the car, get out of the car with your hands up'…As soon as I get out, they all cock their guns -
two shotguns pointing straight at my head."

Kevork Kouyoumjian was driving and his brother and brother's girlfriend
were also in the car.

He says he'd been approached on Highland by a man in a Range Rover.

Kevork Kouyoumjian: "He's like, 'what's your VIN,
where'd you buy your car from...how much did you buy it for?' I said,
'man, I don't know you. I don't want anything. I'm going to leave.' He's
like, I'm going to call the police.'"

Kouyoumjian said he was stunned when officers pulled him over and acted
like it was stolen. There were no plates because he recently purchased
the car in February and showed us the paperwork to prove it.

Despite showing insurance, he says it didn't seem to matter.

Kevork Kouyoumjian: "They push my face against floor
and I'm screaming, 'I didn't do anything wrong.'"

Vick Kouyoumjian: "The minute they did that, I turned
around and I looked at the cops, 'what are you guys doing, what are you
guys doing?' Then all of a sudden one cop kneed me in the crotch and I'm
planted on the car."

Photos show Vick's girlfriend, Ninellia Nazari walking backwards with
her arms up. All three were cuffed and put in separate cars.

Kevork Kouyoumjian: "The whole time there were people passing by. They claimed my brother's girlfriend was a prostitute. The
cops asked her how much she was getting paid for being with us. People
were yelling, 'oh they're drug dealers, this and that'...when we've done
nothing wrong. We sell toys for a living."

Kouyoumjian said eventually the driver of the Range Rover showed up -
now claiming it wasn't his car after all and police told him everything
checked out. But they still impounded the car for evidence.

So we asked the LAPD why the car was taken and if protocol was followed
in this stop.

According to Lt. John Romero, based on information from CBS 2, "the LAPD
initiated personnel complaint and that's the reason why we are
prohibited from talking about this case with any specificity."

In general, having weapons drawn for a high risk stop is protocol.

"Officers are always judged on what they knew at the time," said Romero.
"So finding out later that they're dealing with a serious felon or
finding out later that the person is completely innocent does not change
the standard at the time."

The Kouyoumijian brothers say whatever the outcome of the investigation
they would like the officers involved to apologize.

http://cbs2.com/local/Bizarre.Police.Stop.2.1689058.html