Rodney King | 1965 - 2012

Rodney King shows the bruises he sustained at the hands of four Los Angeles police officers.   (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)

Rodney King leaves the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after turning himself in on a misdemeanor warrant for spousal battery, child abuse and vandalism.   (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King smiles after he was found not guilty of spousal battery.   (Rick Meyer / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King looks at a picture of himself from May 1, 1992, the third day of the Los Angeles riots, which hangs in the living room of his home in Rialto. At that news conference, King uttered the famous words, “Can we all get along?”   (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King in the Los Angeles Times studio.

Rodney King at his home in Rialto.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King put up a tarp to keep neighbors from peering into his yard.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King spends time fishing near his home.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King wrote a book, “The Riot Within,” whose release was timed with the 20th anniversary of the L.A. riots.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)