EspañolBody Camera Footage Captured Los Angeles Deputy Punching Woman Holding Three-Week-Old Baby In Palmdale
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA (July 13, 2023) – A woman holding a baby was punched in the face by a Los Angeles Deputy following a traffic stop in Palmdale.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on Tuesday shortly before midnight. Palmdale Station deputies first spotted a vehicle without headlights and initiated a traffic stop.
Authorities approached the vehicle which had five adults and three infants inside. One officer claims to smell alcohol inside of the vehicle.
Three of the infants in the car were held in the arms of the women instead of being in car seats. The male driver of the car was arrested on suspicion of DUI and driving with a suspended license.
The female passengers were arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment. Officers took the infant child from one of the women.
A second woman was pleading with officers not to take her child away. A deputy punches one woman holding her three-week-old baby twice in the face before the child is taken away.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger called footage of the officer attacking the young mother “gut-wrenching.” A full investigation into the use-of-force incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Excessive Force By Los Angeles Deputies
Los Angeles County has a particularly poor record with respect to use-of-force encounters. This comes amid growing concerns that minorities are being disproportionately affected by police brutality. According to the LAist, “Police in Los Angeles County and across California use force on Black people far out of their proportion of the population […] In Los Angeles County, 27% of the 688 people police shot or seriously injured were Black. That’s more than triple the share of Black Angelenos in the population.” There are a number of ways that Los Angeles County police officers have used excessive force in the past.
- Police officers have hit restrained suspects.
- Police officers have used illegal or dangerous choke-holds.
- Police officers have failed to follow police protocol when dealing with mentally ill suspects.
- Police officers have shot unarmed suspects on numerous occasions.
Every person living in California has a right to be free from the excessive force of police officers. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, “Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law.” There are a number of steps that should be taken after any instance of excessive force by officers.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be sought.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records related to the incident should be reviewed.
- An experienced civil rights attorney should be consulted.
The ability to use potentially lethal force is one of the most consequential powers of law enforcement. It must be used judiciously and only as a matter of last resort. Any person that is injured by the excessive force of the LAPD may be able to seek some measure of justice through a constitutional claim. Police officers in Los Angeles County are not above the law. There are standards and guidelines they must abide by.
Investigating Excessive Force Claims By Los Angeles County Deputies
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP were deeply disturbed by the actions of the Los Angeles County deputies that violently attacked this young mother holding a baby. Not only was she unarmed and posed no threat to officers, police officers put that child in danger. She could have been knocked unconscious and dropped the baby. There needs to be some accountability and steps taken to make sure that nothing like this happens ever again.
Have you or someone that you care about been harmed by the excessive force of Los Angeles County police officers? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of civil rights lawyers are committed to holding law enforcement accountable and getting justice for victims. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
