Español(October 19, 2022) – A security guard identified as Blake Anderson was beaten and seriously injured by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies near the Good Batch Lounge in Inglewood.
A video of the incident was shared on Twitter by Cerise Castle, who works as an investigative journalist in Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the Good Batch Lounge in Inglewood on Sunday.
For undetermined reasons, the two officers overpowered Blake Anderson and forced him to the ground. It was at this point that the officers began brutally assaulting the security guard.
One officer unholstered his gun and put it to the back of the young man’s head while horrified onlookers watched. Officers continued their assault on the victim who has since lost vision in one eye.
One officer stomped on the victim’s head as the other officer held him down. According to a GoFundMe page set up by Bailey Anderson, the officers got out of their vehicle and proceeded to ambush Blake Anderson without probable cause.
It remains unclear if these officers involved in this cowardly assault will face criminal charges.
Liability For Excessive Force Involving Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies
Police brutality is far more common than many people realize. On average, 1000 people are killed every year by police officers in the United States. Far more are seriously injured. Minorities tend to be disproportionately beaten by police officers during encounters. According to Nature, “Data from California show that police stopped and used force against Black people disproportionately, compared with other racial groups, in 2018 (see go.nature.com/2bgfrah).” There are a number of steps that police departments can take in order to prevent police brutality within their ranks.
- Police departments should ban chokeholds and strangleholds.
- Police departments should ensure that their officers are well trained.
- Police officers should be trained to use de-escalation techniques.
- Instances of police brutality should be properly reported.
A police agency in California could face civil liability if their officers assault a suspect. Pursuant to California Penal Code 835a. (1), “That the authority to use physical force, conferred on peace officers by this section, is a serious responsibility that shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of every human life. The Legislature further finds and declares that every person has a right to be free from excessive use of force by officers acting under color of law.” Officers should only use physical force as a measure of last resort. Moreover, that force should stop as soon as a suspect has been subdued.
Courts across California have consistently held that California negligence law is broader than the 4th amendment in excessive force cases. Moreover, an officer’s decisions prior to using physical force could render their actions unreasonable – even if those actions may have appeared to be reasonable in the moment. For example, police officers should announce their presence when they enter a scene and give a suspect time to comply with their demands. It is almost never ok for officers to simply ambush a suspect. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any instance of police brutality.
- Police body cameras should be examined.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
Victims of police assaults tend to suffer very serious injuries. Even after those injuries have healed, people who are beaten by police officers often suffer from long-term psychological trauma. Any person that is injured from police brutality may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, police departments will often fight hard to deny liability for any incident involving their officers. A personal injury attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Excessive Force Cases Involving Los Angeles County Police Officers
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes and sympathies to Blake Anderson as he continues to recover. The unjustified and vicious assault of this man by officers needs to be investigated. Both officers involved in this assault should be fired. Police officers are suppose to protect and serve, not terrorize the community.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims of police brutality get the medical and financial resources that they need to recover. It does not cost anything to hire our attorneys. They work entirely off of a contingency basis. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
