A Los Angeles County sheriff's office deputy has been accused of punching a mother who was holding a 3-week-old infant during an arrest last year. The incident, which occurred on July 14, 2022, has been referred to prosecutors, according to Sheriff Robert Luna.
Body Camera Footage Reveals Deputy's Punch to Mother's Face During Arrest
Sheriff Luna, who was elected in November and took office in December, expressed his strong disapproval of the deputy's actions during a recent news conference. He stated, "I found the punching of the woman in these circumstances completely unacceptable."
According to NBC News, the woman was punched twice in the face after she and several other women with children were arrested for alleged child endangerment following a traffic stop in Palmdale. The deputies had pulled over the vehicle because it was driving without headlights just before midnight on July 13, 2022.
Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputies detected the smell of alcohol and made the discretionary decision to arrest the three women passengers, who were holding infants in their arms without car seats, as well as the driver, on charges of felony child endangerment.
Body camera footage released on Wednesday revealed a struggle between the deputies and one of the women, who can be heard saying, "You're not taking my baby." The video also captured the moment when a deputy appeared to punch the woman twice in the face, despite her pleas to let go, alleging that he was hurting her child.
When one of his area chiefs brought the incident to his attention over the weekend, Sheriff Luna learned about it.
According to ABC, he took immediate action, relieving the deputy involved of field duty. Furthermore, he ordered an internal investigation and referred the matter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for possible criminal charges. The FBI has also been notified and will review the incident to determine if any federal laws were violated.
Commitment to Accountability: Sheriff Vows to Hold Deputy Responsible for Assault
While disciplinary actions taken against the deputy have not been disclosed due to state law restrictions, it is evident that Sheriff Luna is committed to holding the individual accountable for their actions. He assured the public that incidents like this are isolated and that they will be used to improve training within the department.
The released video also showed another woman having her baby taken from her as she sat on the ground, holding the child wrapped in a blanket. The deputies claimed that the woman was endangering her child, leading to her arrest and her separation from her baby.
This latest incident has once again raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of law enforcement in the Antelope Valley. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Palmdale and Lancaster, described the video as "gut-wrenching" and emphasized the need for more transparency in policing.
In 2015, the Justice Department reached a settlement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department following a federal investigation that revealed patterns of excessive use of force, bias, and unlawful searches and seizures. The settlement aimed to promote reforms within the department's stations in Lancaster and Palmdale.
As investigations into these incidents continue, it is hoped that measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The focus remains on improving training, increasing supervision, and fostering lasting change within the sheriff's department.
