EspañolBoy, 14, Attacked By San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy During Struggle Not Far from Hesperia Junior High School
HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA (April 10, 2025) – A 14-year-old boy was repeatedly punched in the head by a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy after a struggle about a mile from Hesperia Junior High School.
The incident began around 4:00 p.m. on the 10100 block of Third Avenue. Deputies received a report about a student who may have brought a gun to school.
One deputy began talking to a group of students when a 14-year-old boy began walking away. When the deputy attempted to detain the boy, some type of struggle ensued.
The boy was taken to the ground and punched in the head several times. A video of the incident shows the boy being led away in handcuffs.
Officials have not said if a gun was recovered following the incident. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for San Bernardino County Deputy-Involved Assaults
Physical assaults by police officers remain all too common across California and the United States. According to the Law Enforcement Epidemiology Project, “In the U.S. during a given year, an estimated 1 million civilians experience police threat of or use of force resulting in a conservative estimate of 75,000 non-fatal injuries requiring hospital treatment and 600-1100 deaths.” Police departments should take a number of measures in order to protect the public from misconduct.
- Thorough Hiring: Police departments should conduct thorough background checks and psychological evaluations on all of the people seeking to be officers.
- Training: Police officers should receive ample training on crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques. Force should only be escalated as necessary.
- Clear Policies: Police departments should develop clear policies on when officers may use force.
- Investigations: Police departments should thoroughly investigate all allegations of misconduct. Officers that engage in excessive force must be held accountable.
Every person in California has a legal right to live free from the use of excessive force that is exercised under the color of law. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. If a police officer uses excessive force on a suspect, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim.
There have been many instances over the years where police officers have attacked minors. Consider, for example, London Wallace v. City of Fresno et al. A 17-year-old named London Wallace was brutally attacked by officers. According to court documents, “bodycam video in this case depicts Martinez punching Wallace multiple times in the face and head for seemingly no reason, and then shows a continued barrage of blows by another officer even though Wallace was pinned to the ground.” It is important that certain steps are taken after an assault involving police officers.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be sought.
- Medical records related to the incident should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should also be examined if it is available.
- An experienced civil rights attorney should be contacted.
Whether or not any specific instance of force is reasonable in California will depend on the totality of circumstances around the event. Even if the use of force seemed reasonable, it may not be, given the surrounding factors leading up to the incident. Police departments will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if one of their officers injures a suspect. This is why it is so important that all instances of police misconduct are thoroughly investigated by an outside party. If you’ve been the victim of police misconduct, an experienced civil rights attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know if you have a claim that can be pursued.
Investigating San Bernardino County Deputy-Involved Incidents
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP were deeply concerned to hear about this incident along Third Avenue in Hesperia. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. This is a deeply troubling incident that requires accountability and transparency.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured by the excessive force of police officers in San Bernardino County? You may have legal recourse. Our team of police misconduct attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that people are aware of their rights and that police departments are held accountable for the wrongful actions of their officers. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
