Lawsuit filed against sheriff Baca for inmate abuse
(BDCi) – The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Lee Baca for what it described as “extraordinary brutality” by deputies against inmates in LA County jails.
“We file suit because for years, violence by deputies against detainees, most of whom are still awaiting trial and have to be presumed innocent, has been brutal and it has been rampant,” said Hector Villagra, the executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of plaintiffs Alex Rosas and Jonathan Goodwin, two county jail inmates. The suit states that Rosas and Goodwin were “beaten and threatened with violence by deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department” and also witnessed deputies beating other inmates.
Baca, who has been sheriff since 1998, did not immediately respond to the lawsuit.
By: Natania Levine Courtesy: nbclosangeles.com Photo: presstv.ir 19 January 2012
1:21 p.m P.S.T