Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Disturbing Video of Deputies Using Force at Grocery Store
The Los Angeles County sheriff’s department has launched an investigation after a video surfaced showing two deputies using force to detain two individuals at a grocery store in Lancaster last month. The video, captured by a community member’s cellphone camera, has been described as “disturbing” by the department.
According to the sheriff’s department, deputies responded to a report of a robbery in progress at the grocery store on June 24. They attempted to detain a man and a woman who matched the description provided by store security personnel. However, the encounter quickly escalated into a use of force incident.
One of the body-camera videos released by the department shows a deputy repeatedly instructing a man to put his hands on the hood of a car and sit down. The man insists that he has done nothing wrong, but two deputies approach him, stating that they are going to pat him down and place him in handcuffs. The man complains about a problem with his arm, but is forced to the ground by one of the deputies. He can be heard on the video saying that he is “not going to fight” and mentioning that his wife has cancer.
In another video, a deputy approaches a woman who is filming the interaction on her cellphone. The woman can be heard telling the deputy that he cannot touch her, but he reaches towards her and throws her to the ground. The deputy repeatedly tells her to stop and get on the ground as he tries to restrain her. During the struggle, the deputy threatens to punch the woman in the face, and she threatens to sue him. The video shows the woman saying she can’t breathe before the deputy sprays her in the face with OC spray, also known as pepper spray. He then places her in handcuffs while she questions why she is being “manhandled.”
Both deputies involved in the incident have been reassigned from field duty while the department conducts its investigation. The department will review footage from body cameras, surveillance cameras, and cellphones to determine whether the use of force was reasonable, necessary, appropriate, and proportional to the level of actions described.
Tom Yu, an attorney representing the deputy who restrained the woman in the video, believes that his client will not face disciplinary action, termination, or criminal charges. Yu argues that more attention should be given to the actions of the individuals being detained that led to the deputies using force.
The man and woman involved in the incident were not injured during the arrest. The man was arrested for resisting a police officer and misdemeanor trespassing, while the woman was arrested for attempting to deter or resist an officer performing their duty and assault and battery, according to the sheriff’s department.
In response to the video, a protest is scheduled to be held at the grocery store on Wednesday, demanding that the deputy who forced the woman to the ground be fired.
How is the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department ensuring a thorough and unbiased investigation into the incident of a deputy aggressively detaining a woman?
Ard telling the deputy to stop hurting him.
The other video shows a deputy aggressively detaining a woman, forcibly pushing her against a wall and then grabbing her arm to handcuff her. She can be heard protesting and asking for them to stop.
The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage from community members and activists. Many have criticized the actions of the deputies, alleging excessive use of force and unnecessary aggression.
In response to the video, the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department has launched an investigation into the incident. Sheriff Alex Villanueva has stated that the department takes these allegations seriously and will conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation.
The investigation will include a review of all available camera footage, interviews with witnesses, and a detailed analysis of the deputies’ actions. The department has also requested that the community member who recorded the video come forward to provide any additional information or evidence.
The department has emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in its investigation process. Sheriff Villanueva has stated that if any wrongdoing is found, appropriate action will be taken against the deputies involved.
This incident comes at a time when law enforcement agencies across the country are facing increased scrutiny over their use of force, particularly against minority communities. The Los Angeles County sheriff’s department has been working to improve community relations and build trust through various initiatives, but incidents like this continue to strain that relationship.
Community leaders and activists are calling for swift and thorough action in response to the video. They are urging the department to hold the deputies accountable and implement changes to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department has promised to keep the public informed regarding its progress and findings. In the meantime, community members are encouraged to report any concerns or experiences of misconduct to the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau.
This disturbing body camera footage depicting a Los Angeles deputy slamming a woman to the ground raises serious concerns about the use of force by law enforcement. Accountability and transparency should be prioritized in cases like these to ensure public trust and prevent such incidents from happening again.