A recently leaked video has surfaced, revealing a disturbing incident involving a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and a transgender man during a traffic stop. The incident reportedly occurred because the driver of the vehicle flipped off the deputy. The video, which was recorded in February and recently obtained by local news outlets, shows the deputy approaching the parked car at a convenience store and forcefully grabbing the man as he exits the vehicle.
The deputy can be heard saying, “Come here. I just stopped you,” while approaching the man. In response, the man says, “No you didn’t. Get your hands off me,” as the deputy forcefully takes him down to the ground.
According to the man’s attorney, this act of aggression was payback for the driver flipping off the deputy. The attorney claims that the man suffered a concussion after being repeatedly punched in the head by the deputy. He describes the altercation as completely unwarranted and purely retaliatory.
The deputy, identified as Joseph Benza, supposedly stopped the man for having an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. However, civil rights advocates argue that such pretexts provide an excuse for law enforcement to unfairly target and pull over minority individuals. This incident follows similar cases, such as the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, a Black motorist in Minnesota, who was stopped by police due to an air freshener.
It is worth noting that last year, the Los Angeles Police Department announced limitations on pretextual traffic stops, as they were found to disproportionately target Black and Latino residents.
In a shocking turn of events, after the man’s arrest, he was subjected to further humiliation when he was forced to expose himself physically to the staff while being booked. The man’s attorney claims that this treatment was a violation of his client’s rights and underscores the mistreatment he endured during this entire ordeal.
The deputy justified his use of force by claiming that he tackled the man because he appeared as though he might try to punch him. He further alleged that the man bit him, resulting in injuries that he claims could lead to permanent disfigurement. However, no evidence of a bite was found by medical personnel who examined him. The only noted injury was a fractured hand, possibly from a punching motion.
According to the Los Angeles Times, an internal investigation is currently underway, although the deputy has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the force review process. The Sheriff’s department spokesperson confirmed the ongoing investigation but did not provide information on the deputy’s current status.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department takes all use of force incidents seriously. The Department is investigating the information and allegations brought forward by Mr. Brock and his attorney. Unfortunately, we cannot comment any further at this time due to the pending litigation in this matter.”
This incident highlights the need for transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies, especially regarding the treatment of marginalized communities.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
