D.A.’s office withheld decision in excessive force case to affect sheriff’s race, lawsuit says
1 year, 4 months ago

D.A.’s office withheld decision in excessive force case to affect sheriff’s race, lawsuit says

LA Times  

A close advisor to Los Angeles County Dist. George Gascón allegedly delayed announcing the decision not to file criminal charges in a high-profile excessive force case because of its potential effect on then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s reelection bid, according to a lawsuit filed late Friday. Pentz said Diana Teran, who oversees the district attorney’s office unit that handles prosecutions of police officers, “wanted the declination held back until after the sheriff’s election because Sheriff Villanueva had made public statements about the case,” according to her lawsuit. Villanueva previously claimed, without evidence, that Gascón had delayed announcing decisions not to charge deputies in shootings and excessive force cases in order to hurt the sheriff’s reelection chances. “Head Deputy Alan Yochelson told plaintiff that Diana Teran wanted to ‘hold off’ on releasing the Case declination, in an effort to impact the outcome of the election against Sheriff Alex Villanueva,” the lawsuit read.

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History of this topic

Former Sheriff Villanueva to file $25-million lawsuit over county’s ‘Do Not Rehire’ label
10 months, 1 week ago

Former Sheriff Villanueva to file $25-million lawsuit over county’s ‘Do Not Rehire’ label

LA Times  

Former Sheriff Alex Villanueva plans to file a $25-million federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County for putting a “Do Not Rehire” notation in his personnel file after an oversight panel said he harassed and discriminated against two county employees. Villanueva’s lawyer called the recommendation — which the department ultimately adopted — a “lethal blow” to the former sheriff’s lengthy career …

L.A. County D.A. George Gascón’s chief of staff settles lawsuit with Azusa police after arrest
1 year, 8 months ago

L.A. County D.A. George Gascón’s chief of staff settles lawsuit with Azusa police after arrest

LA Times  

One of Los Angeles County Dist. George Gascón’s top aides settled a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Azusa Police Department this week, following his arrest there on suspicion of public intoxication. The arresting officer said he was trying to investigate whether or not Iniguez’s partner was driving impaired, but then accused Iniguez of repeatedly interfering with him, according to …

Gascón loses retaliation case, a grim omen for the L.A. County D.A.
2 years ago

Gascón loses retaliation case, a grim omen for the L.A. County D.A.

LA Times  

An L.A. County prosecutor on Monday was awarded $1.5 million in a retaliation lawsuit against Dist. Shawn Randolph, the former head of the juvenile division of the district attorney’s office, claimed she was shuttled off to the parole division for pushing back against some of Gascón’s shifts to the handling of criminal cases involving minors, including his blanket ban on …

Former chief of staff sues L.A. D.A. George Gascón for retaliation
2 years, 3 months ago

Former chief of staff sues L.A. D.A. George Gascón for retaliation

LA Times  

Los Angeles County Dist. Victoria Adams, an assistant district attorney who has spent more than 35 years working for the office, filed the complaint Thursday, accusing Gascón of demoting her after she questioned a number of his policies and decisions, including the handling of the controversial Hannah Tubbs case. Adams alleged she was replaced as chief of staff by Joseph …

L.A. sheriff targeted lieutenant for donating to opponent, lawsuit says
2 years, 5 months ago

L.A. sheriff targeted lieutenant for donating to opponent, lawsuit says

LA Times  

A sheriff’s official says he was targeted with retaliation after donating to Alex Villanueva’s opponent in the sheriff race. A Los Angeles County sheriff’s lieutenant filed a lawsuit Monday alleging sheriff’s officials targeted him with a trumped-up criminal investigation as retaliation after he made a campaign donation to one of Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s political challengers. In the lawsuit filed Monday …

Editorial: Alex Villanueva, L.A.’s loosest cannon and pettiest cop
2 years, 6 months ago

Editorial: Alex Villanueva, L.A.’s loosest cannon and pettiest cop

LA Times  

Los Angeles Supervisor Sheila Kuehl stands in front of her Santa Monica home Wednesday after being escorted out by deputies who served her with a search warrant. The potential evidence that armed Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies confiscated from the home of Supervisor Sheila Kuehl on Wednesday included her mobile phone, personal computer — and videotapes of the TV show …

Can Villanueva push back challengers? A 2022 L.A. County sheriff’s race guide
2 years, 9 months ago

Can Villanueva push back challengers? A 2022 L.A. County sheriff’s race guide

LA Times  

Voters on June 7 will decide the future of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at a critical moment for the agency. The department has long struggled to reshape itself after a corruption scandal a decade ago that led to convictions against longtime Sheriff Lee Baca and many other top officials. Villanueva‘s term has been marked by clashes with the …

Third top official disputes Sheriff Villanueva’s account in cover-up
2 years, 10 months ago

Third top official disputes Sheriff Villanueva’s account in cover-up

LA Times  

A third high-ranking Los Angeles County sheriff’s official has filed a legal claim contradicting Sheriff Villanueva’s account of how he handled an incident in which a deputy kneeled on the head of a handcuffed inmate for three minutes. Sheriff Robin Limon and Limon told her she was “heading immediately from there to Villanueva’s office to show him the video.” Limon, …

The week Sheriff Villanueva out-Trumped Donald Trump
2 years, 10 months ago

The week Sheriff Villanueva out-Trumped Donald Trump

LA Times  

I’m Paul Thornton, and it is Saturday, April 30, 2022. As you probably know by now, earlier this week Villanueva reacted to allegations that he directed a department cover-up of an altercation in which a deputy was caught on camera kneeling on an inmate’s head for three minutes by threatening to criminally investigate Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian and two people …

First eyewitness account of Sheriff Villanueva lying in a cover-up revealed in filing
2 years, 11 months ago

First eyewitness account of Sheriff Villanueva lying in a cover-up revealed in filing

LA Times  

A former top-ranking Los Angeles County sheriff’s official filed a legal claim Thursday that offered the first eyewitness account of Sheriff Alex Villanueva allegedly lying about his involvement in a cover-up and also made allegations about retaliation and other improprieties in the Sheriff’s Department. After The Times last month reported on the cover-up, Limon’s claim said, Villanueva demanded that she …

LA sheriff investigates how reporter obtained leaked video
2 years, 11 months ago

LA sheriff investigates how reporter obtained leaked video

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County sheriff on Tuesday disputed allegations he orchestrated a cover-up of an incident where a deputy knelt on a handcuffed inmate’s head and said a Los Angeles Times reporter who used leaked documents and video to first report on the case is part of his criminal investigation. Hours later, the sheriff clarified in a …

Sheriff Villanueva investigates reporter who revealed jail coverup
2 years, 11 months ago

Sheriff Villanueva investigates reporter who revealed jail coverup

LA Times  

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Tuesday that his department was targeting a Times journalist in a criminal leak investigation for her reporting on a departmental cover-up, but after a barrage of criticism from politicians, the newspaper and press freedom groups, he backed off his announcement and denied that he considered the reporter a suspect. “We have no interest …

Full Coverage: Sheriff’s Department cover-up of incident where deputy knelt on inmate’s head
2 years, 11 months ago

Full Coverage: Sheriff’s Department cover-up of incident where deputy knelt on inmate’s head

LA Times  

Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials attempted to cover up an incident in which a deputy knelt on the head of a handcuffed inmate for three minutes because they feared the “negative light” it could shed on the department, according to internal records reviewed by The Times. The independent watchdog for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating allegations Sheriff …

L.A. County sheriff watchdog probing whether Villanueva lied about violent detention by deputy
2 years, 11 months ago

L.A. County sheriff watchdog probing whether Villanueva lied about violent detention by deputy

LA Times  

An independent watchdog is investigating allegations L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva lied about when he learned of an incident in which a deputy kneeled on an inmate’s head. The independent watchdog for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating allegations Sheriff Alex Villanueva lied about his knowledge of an incident in which a deputy kneeled on a handcuffed inmate’s …

Column: L.A. County sheriff shoots his mouth off again
2 years, 11 months ago

Column: L.A. County sheriff shoots his mouth off again

LA Times  

Shortly after my three-part series on Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva was published last week, a longtime critic of mine went on Twitter to write: “Last night Harry Chandler came back from the dead 2 order the @latimes shoe shine boy to promote division among black & Latinos.” He added: “They stroke divisions & use the taco guy for …

Column: Sheriff Villanueva is angry — at elected officials, at The Times, at lawlessness
3 years, 8 months ago

Column: Sheriff Villanueva is angry — at elected officials, at The Times, at lawlessness

LA Times  

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva had a few things to get off his chest when we met in his office at the Hall of Justice on Monday afternoon. “I know your periodical loves to throw rocks at the evil Sheriff’s Department,” he said, “but believe it or not, we have a lot of experience in managing the mentally ill …

D.A. Gascón seeks information on officers with histories of misconduct in latest reform move
4 years, 1 month ago

D.A. Gascón seeks information on officers with histories of misconduct in latest reform move

LA Times  

George Gascón has requested that law enforcement agencies across Los Angeles County provide his office with the names of deputies and officers who have histories of misconduct that might affect their credibility in court. The letter cites an August 2019 decision in which the California Supreme Court ruled that the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, as well as other law enforcement …

Op-Ed: Stop the attempt to derail D.A. George Gascón’s criminal justice reforms
4 years, 2 months ago

Op-Ed: Stop the attempt to derail D.A. George Gascón’s criminal justice reforms

LA Times  

Deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles County are trying hard to undermine the efforts of George Gascón, who was elected Los Angeles County district attorney on a vision of reforming the criminal justice system. California Union representing deputy district attorneys sues Gascón over enhancements policy The union for L.A. County deputy district attorneys has sued Dist. Gascón, as the elected …

Criticism of sheriff’s performance intensifies, but Villanueva insists he’s not concerned
4 years, 6 months ago

Criticism of sheriff’s performance intensifies, but Villanueva insists he’s not concerned

LA Times  

Sheriff Alex Villanueva holds a news conference outside the emergency room of St. Francis Medical Center, where two L.A. County sheriff’s deputies were treated after being shot Sept. 12. The turn of Thursday’s Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission meeting was unexpected: after various agenda items, Commissioner Robert Bonner called for the resignation of L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. “It’s a proxy …

Supervisors join calls for Sheriff Villanueva to step down
4 years, 6 months ago

Supervisors join calls for Sheriff Villanueva to step down

LA Times  

Two Los Angeles County supervisors joined with several members of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission in calling on Sheriff Alex Villanueva to resign, saying he’s dragged his feet on critical reforms, resisted oversight of the department and failed to hold deputies accountable. “It is with great reluctance that I call on Sheriff Villanueva to resign,” said Commissioner Robert Bonner during …

Sheriff’s sexist slur and accusations of ‘blood money’ ramp up feud with L.A. County supervisors
4 years, 8 months ago

Sheriff’s sexist slur and accusations of ‘blood money’ ramp up feud with L.A. County supervisors

LA Times  

During a recent broadcast on Facebook, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva spent several minutes criticizing Supervisor Hilda Solis for her comments earlier that week on systemic brutality and racism by police toward people of color. We cannot let him take us there.” Ivette Alé, senior policy lead at Dignity and Power Now, who identifies as Latinx, said Villanueva’s use …

Q&A: Alex Villanueva says he is just ‘assuming the proper role’ of an elected sheriff
5 years, 11 months ago

Q&A: Alex Villanueva says he is just ‘assuming the proper role’ of an elected sheriff

LA Times  

Since taking office in December, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has faced criticism over his decision to reinstate Caren Carl Mandoyan, a deputy fired over allegations of domestic violence and lying to internal investigators. He and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors are now locked in a court fight over who has the ultimate authority over personnel decisions at …

Court delays settling dispute between county and Sheriff Villanueva over fired deputy
6 years ago

Court delays settling dispute between county and Sheriff Villanueva over fired deputy

LA Times  

A judge on Wednesday declined to overturn Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s reinstatement of a deputy fired amid allegations of domestic violence, prolonging a stalemate with the Board of Supervisors over the decision. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff said the county’s objections to Villanueva’s decision didn’t warrant an emergency order to intervene by removing the …

Sheriff Alex Villanueva has harsh criticism for predecessor’s jail reform efforts
6 years, 1 month ago

Sheriff Alex Villanueva has harsh criticism for predecessor’s jail reform efforts

LA Times  

During his state-of-the-department address, Sheriff Alex Villanueva describes his interaction with supervisors the day before. “Today is our first step towards this effort.” Villanueva slammed his predecessor, Jim McDonnell, who took office after a federal investigation into deputy violence against inmates in the county jail system led to the convictions of numerous top department leaders, including longtime Sheriff Lee Baca. …

D.A. investigator’s lawsuit says he was beaten and unlawfully detained by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies
8 years, 1 month ago

D.A. investigator’s lawsuit says he was beaten and unlawfully detained by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies

LA Times  

L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell at the first-ever meeting of the L.A. County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission held at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 26, 2017. An investigator with the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Jim McDonnell and a group of deputies, alleging he was …

Feds did what the L.A. prosecutors didn’t do: bring deputies in jail visitor’s beating to justice
9 years, 3 months ago

Feds did what the L.A. prosecutors didn’t do: bring deputies in jail visitor’s beating to justice

LA Times  

Gabriel Carrillo, left, who was beaten by sheriff’s deputies while handcuffed, appeared in court with his attorney in November to clear his name. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department already was engulfed in a jail brutality scandal when a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office examined the beating of Gabriel Carrillo. This year, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office secured …

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