No charges filed against sheriff's deputies for Christmas party brawl
Deputy admits to throwing the first punch
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Prosecutors have declined to file criminal charges against a group of Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies accused of assaulting three fellow deputies at a Christmas party last year, it was reported today.
The violence broke out at a department party in Montebello and drew widespread attention after those involved were described as being part of an aggressive deputies’ clique at Men’s Central Jail known to throw gang-like hand signs, the Los Angeles Times reported.
According to a memo from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office cited by The Times, charges were not filed against eight deputies in part because one of them who was alleging he was assaulted admitted he “struck the first blow,” which would “certainly raise the defense of self-defense.”
Prosecutors also found the statements of a female deputy who alleged she was punched in the chin to be unreliable.
The deputies described as the aggressors worked on the third floor of Men’s Central Jail, which had the highest number of use-of-force incidents compared to any other floor during a recent years-long span, according to The Times.
In March, the department moved to fire six deputies in what was called one of the largest terminations in connection with a single incident in Sheriff’s Department history.
Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore told The Times that the district attorney’s decision not to file charges does not affect the department’s ongoing internal investigation, which he said had been expanded.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Seven Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies have been relieved of duty pending an investigation into a brawl at a Christmas party, a sheriff's spokesman said today.
The party, held Friday at the Quiet Cannon banquet hall in Montebello was for deputies who work at Men's Central Jail. About 11:30 p.m., a fight broke out, sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. He said he thought it happened outside the hall.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors agreed today to consider building a treatment center to house mentally ill inmates as one of several alternatives to a proposed $933 million rebuild of downtown Men’s Central Jail.
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky recommended the treatment center be added to options being studied to solve jail overcrowding at the urging of Assistant Sheriff Terri McDonald, who oversees the county jail system.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A dozen Los Angeles-area residents — including the state’s second-largest biller for chiropractic services — were taken into custody today in connection with seven criminal cases alleging they cumulatively submitted more than $22 million in false billings to Medicare.
Those arrested also include a physician’s assistant and owners of durable medical equipment and ambulance companies, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Board of Supervisors agreed today to hire an independent consultant to analyze the need for new county jails, putting a nearly $1 billion proposal to replace the aging Men’s Central Jail on hold for at least another 60 days.
Chief Executive Officer William Fujioka submitted a plan he characterized as “a comprehensive approach that combines long-term facility improvements ... and programmatic alternatives that can potentially divert low-and medium-security inmates from incarceration.”
PALMDALE, Calif.—Sheriff’s employees and volunteers in Palmdale will take a survey Jan. 26 aimed at improving community-oriented policing.
The goal is to develop strategies for dealing with neighborhood issues, according Deputy Jodi Wolfe of the Palmdale Station.
“Together, we will develop long term strategies and build stronger relationships that will further reduce crime and improve communications between your sheriff’s station and the citizens of this community,” Capt. Bobby Denham said.
