They knew that he wasnt the right person The superiors always protect their rank and file. We have a gang here that has grown to the point where it dominates every aspect of life at the Compton station, said Alan Romero, an attorney representing Gonzalez in the claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit. The Times has requested arrest records from the Compton station to determine whether such a slowdown occurred. Gonzalez believes that Battles was punished for their association with each other. The county has denied the allegations. Sean Kennedy, member of the Civilian Oversight Commission and professor at Loyola Law School, said Thursday that he and his students have identified at least 17 gangs some of them historical in the department. It was one of the first instances of retaliation that continued for months, exacted by the Executioners, a band of deputies with matching tattoos that wields vast power at the Compton station, he alleged in a claim filed against Los Angeles County. Deputy Eugene Contreras returned to the Compton Station in 2020 after a temporary assignment in the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB). Austreberto Gonzalez, asheriff's deputy and aMarine Corps veteran, worked at the Compton patrol station for five years where the gang wielded outsized influence, according to the claim obtained by Fox News. In the summer of 2020, the Guardado family lived in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. Alegria told the Times that every 10 minutes a deputy would come ask if he needed medical attention. Freelance journalist Vishal P. Singh captured David Cunningham III, a candidate for City Council who was there as a legal observer, being grabbed by a deputy. The deputies pulled out their guns and chased him. The tattoos are allegedly awarded for killing a civilian, and given out at parties. Deputies refused to partner with him, while an inked deputy in dispatch saddled him with calls. Juarez did not respond to a request for comment. They are notorious for these gangs popping up, and they are notorious for violating citizens civil rights., Since at least 2016, a gang of deputy sheriffs called the Executioners have prowled the streets of the City of Compton. And, presumably, the clique would not be issuing membership cards, or taking minutes at membership meetings, or doing anything else that normal, lawful organizations do. Were going to continue to use all the tools at our disposal.. 38 was a nod to his first gun; Orregos said his tattoo, which was covered up, was never numbered and he got it in solidarity with Aldama, his friend who had cancer; and Deputy Rogelio Benzors tattoo has a No. Were not going to put a pause or stop on anything unless the court tells us. Vega did not appear at inquest. The following month, Vega and Hernandez were suspended from the Department for crashing their vehicle with Jesus Alegria in the back. Inking refers to the act of each newly made member of The Executioners receiving a matching tattoo indicating membership in the organization. Sweeney says Taylor ran out of fear. According to the complaint, deputies on scene stated they were looking for a gun. . She previously covered the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, focusing on accountability stories and writing about failures by officials to comply with transparency laws. The next day, two investigators came to the station unannounced and requested to speak with Gonzalez at the front desk. Donta Taylor, it was night in a desolate, backwashed section of Compton and death sealed his lips. There are 30 alleged members of the Executioners operating from the Compton station. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against the deputies who Miller says attacked his clients. When Gonzalez complained to Scheduling and Training Sergeant Lopez about the situation, Lopez informed him that he would support Juarez. Compton Executioners sheriff gang lied about guns and hosted inking parties, deputy says. Hes also the parent of a young daughter with a severe medical condition that requires constant care and attention, which placed him on a special work schedule. Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. We would hardly ever see a unit in the booking line with, you know you know, with suspects in their back seats. The Sheriffs Department said in a statement that it had not yet received the transcript of Gonzalezs testimony. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles County sheriff's Compton patrol station "has been permeated" by a violent deputy gang called the "Executioners," according to a new legal claim. Discover the tattoos, the resident and guest artists, the walk-in and private studios, the events and conventions and the tattoo removal centers located in Ho Chi Minh City. Vega and Hernandez approached Alegria, grabbed him by the wrist, and threw him in the back of their patrol car. Taylor, 31, was fatally shot by deputies during a 2016 foot chase. Mary Starks told KCAL9 that her son had been riding his bike to get her cigarettes, as was his custom, when he was killed. LA County residents also footed the bill for attorney fees on both sides. They know whats going on. It was alleged in the filing that the 'Executioners' function at the Compton station with "impunity". County sheriff's deputy photographed as part of an excessive-force lawsuit. He was warned by another deputy to be careful. Thatcher called a meeting with deputies to tell them he was happy with the results of his illegal policy. In Compton, the Executioners ruled the station using a similar structure, Gonzalez testified. axel lab publications; los angeles car accident death today. A WHISTLEBLOWER cop has claimed that his LA police department has been taken over by a gang known as the 'Executioners' - who bear Nazi tattoos and make illegal arrests. Orrego says Aldama pulled over and that as he stepped out of the vehicle, Taylor pulled out a gun and ran. There was nobody being arrested. Compton Deputy Samuel Aldama speaks at a deposition where he reveals his tattoo associated with the Executioners. Compton Executioners. WitnessLA reports that all three deputies were Executioners. Maya Lau is a former investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she focused on rapid-response investigations into the chaos inside the USPS, problems with signature verification on ballots and challenges of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Deputies said Taylor had a handgun, but no weapon was found. Tattooed in Ho Chi Minh City. Aldama was transferred to another station, and appears to be working as a deputy today. In the months after, both deputies committed brutal acts of violence against Black men. Secret societies of Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies with matching skeleton tattoos have long been a liability in cases in which inked deputies are accused of excessive force and harassment. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It was a photo of graffiti scrawled on a dial pad at the stations parking lot entrance: ART IS A RAT, it read. Aldama said in a deposition that about twenty other deputies at the Compton station had the same tattoo. The group filed a federal complaint against the County and Sheriff Villanueva, along with several other protesters who were rallying against police violence in demonstrations across Los Angeles County. "We're not going to tolerate any clique, any gang-like group of people, subgroup the only group that is acceptable wearing tan and green are deputy sheriff's serving the community," Villanuevasaid. It essentially controls scheduling, the distribution of informant tips, and assignments to deputies in the station with preference shown to members of the gang as well as prospects.. They did nothing, Locketts attorney John Sweeney said during a hearing this week. Taylor fled down a nearby trail overlooking a water runoff. Thats because the call-out is based on a lie. Twenty-five years from now, youre watching the news and some smart law student from Stanford in the Innocence Project [comes out with] Sheldon Lockett comes with gray hair and a beard. He tells Knock LA that Lockett is in horrible condition today and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. L.A. Affairs: My divorce isnt contagious. Gonzalezs claim alleges the Compton station clique numbers about 20 deputies, while 20 more are prospects or associates. In 2019, for example, the county paid out $7 million to settle a wrongful death claim filed by the family of a man shot and killed by a deputy with an Executioners tattoo. When he said that he did, he wasnt given any. The subculture includes monikers that indicate members of theBanditos, Regulators, Grim Reapers and Spartans, which allegedly operate out of various sheriff department patrol stations. They encircled us and basically trapped us in there, says Gonzalez. Instead, he says, they served a search warrant on her home in retaliation. All rights reserved. The county had argued that Locketts attorneys failed to produce evidence that there was a clique and show that the county knew about it. He also said that any future meetings would have to be done somewhere other than the Compton Station. He claims the members ink themselves with tattoos featuringNazi imagery, a laughing skeleton and an AK-47. Even so, he says, Aldama punched him in the head five times while using the N-word. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Gonzalez made what he believed to be a confidential report to the IAB. October 21, 2021. They broke all the cameras and took the DVR, which they pulled a warrant for after the fact. The gang celebrates deputy shootings and threatens work slowdowns when given unpreferred assignments, according to the claim. Xonya Ho Chi Minh City. Artists in Ho Chi Minh City. The most recent inking event Juarez said he was present for was a year and a half or two years ago. Deputies outfitted in riot gear surrounded the small group that had gathered and barricaded them in. . A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy alleges a claim in the department's Compton station called the Executioners retaliated against him for reporting misconduct. Sweeney says that an expert tattoo artist testified the design appears to come from a stencil. When Gonzalez complained to his supervisor, Lieutenant Ruiz, he told Gonzalez that he could make another complaint to IAB. But Sheldon Lockett had witnesses and he lived to tell the story, Sweeney says. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. On April 13, 23-year-old Jesus Alegria was at Wilson Park skateboarding when Deputies Miguel Vega and Christopher Hernandez drove up in a patrol vehicle. Market data provided by Factset. Vega had inadvertently trapped himself and was unable to open his door, so the deputy climbed out of the window and onto the hood of the car. Following the meeting, Alcala, Guzman, and Gonzalez were placed on traffic duty. The "Executioners" network, according to a report on July 30 in the Los Angeles Times, is composed of sworn law enforcement officers who all have matching tattoos featuring "a skull with . He was investigated by Los Angeles police in 2012 on an allegation of sexual misconduct. Representatives Maxine Waters and Nanette Diaz Barragn released a joint statement calling on then California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to independently investigate Guardados killing. I think they wanted to sweep it under the rug and didnt want there to be political fallout from Sheriff McDonell, who was running for office re-election, says Sweeney. I think that I now call them a gang because thats what gangs do. The deputies were assigned to Compton Station, and both would eventually testify to being tattooed with the skull-and-assault-rifle insignia that whistleblowers claim signifies membership in a violent deputy gang known as the Executioners. In February 2020, Contreras was working as a Field Training Officer. The investigation found that 11 deputies in the East L.A. sheriff's station are in the Banditos gang, and 30 members of the Executioners gang are in the Compton sheriff's station. Deputy Michael Vega had been trained by Deputy Contreras, an Executioner who harassed Gonzalez, WitnessLA reports. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and decorated LASD deputy alleges that the Compton patrol station is run by a deputy gang known as the "Executioners."Full story:. The search was done while the couple was out. Following the death of Guardado, several protests were held throughout the Los Angeles area. Leos allegedly raised his voice and told the deputies, You should have known Do your job, Im trying to save your career. Alcala told Leos that doing his job meant completing service calls for the community. Legal Statement. Furthermore, Gonzalez claims the punishment was served to him by the Executioners, a group of deputies with the same tattoos, which are a powerful force at the Compton station, the LA Times reports. Andres ran down the driveway, got on his knees and put his hands behind his head. Gonzalez claimed that Deputy Miguel Vega, who shot 18-year-old Andres Guardado during a June incident that sparked protests, was a prospective member of the Executioners, a dozen or so deputies . [8], Members of the Executioners are drawn from deputies who work at the Compton station of the LASD. LAPD 'SWAT MAFIA' ENCOURAGED DEADLY FORCE AND RETALIATION, OFFICER'S LAWSUIT CLAIMS, A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy alleges a claim in the department's Compton station called the Executioners retaliated against him for reporting misconduct. The tattoos were given by four or five different artists at different people's homes, he said. But sheriffs deputies in Compton were increasingly seen as outsiders and developed a reputation among some locals for aggressive tactics. Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Lockett was also tasered and pepper sprayed by other deputies. When they arrived, they were greeted by LASD personnel in riot gear. The Sheriffs Department said the FBI is now involved in an investigation of the Executioners. These deputies share a tattoo, which features a skeleton . Video of this coming pic.twitter.com/CLUDUfCYBO. The family retained Sweeney for the case. After being admitted to the gang, it said, an officer received its . Deputies claimed Taylor had a handgun, but no weapon was found. Andrew Haney, who worked at the body shop and witnessed the shooting, told LA Taco that Guardado got to his knees and was shot by a deputy. He said in his deposition that he was relieved of duty for the off-duty incident but that the allegation was unfounded and he was not disciplined. On Tuesday, the department said itlaunched "multiple investigations" into the matter. The caption of the photo read, Some people worked Compton, others just claimed they did!!!. Juarez was reportedly part of a reform effort put forward under former Sheriff Jim McDonnell that stationed deputies who had been involved with multiple on-duty shootings behind a desk. Gonzalez says he was forced to take paid family leave. In 2016, Gonzalez attempted to get time off of work in order to care for his daughter. [1][2] In July 2021, U.S. Congressional Representative Maxine Waters called for a Department of Justice inquiry into the existence of the gang. No gun was ever recovered. In 2000, the city disbanded its police force after struggling to contain rising crime and gang violence. Lockett alleges he was targeted by deputies chasing ink when he was beaten and falsely arrested for attempted murder in 2016, his attorneys said. A vast majority of members and prospects, he said, have been involved in high-profile shootings or beatings. UPDATE: came to speak with the manager. Mapping Deputy Gangs within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Alegria walked away and said that a family unloading groceries from their car gave him water and let him call his father. In her prior beat covering the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, she led a team that produced a series revealing how the misconduct of hundreds of deputies had been hidden from judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys for decades, raising questions about whether some defendants received fair trials. He alleged that one of the deputies rammed the end of a police baton into his eye socket, which caused permanent damage, and that he was kicked in the back of the head. ", Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. "And criminaldefense attorneys are going to be lining up making motions for new trials. In Compton, the Executioners ruled the station using a similar structure, Gonzalez testified. Deputies claimed he had a weapon but none were recovered. The Compton Executioners is a deputy gang within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). In July 2021, U.S. Congressional Representative Maxine Waters called for a Department of Justice inquiry into the existence of the gang.. Members of the 'Executioners' are deputies operating out of the Compton station of the LASD. The county settled the case with Taylor's family for $7 million. The cop house cliques were first brought to light in a civil case brought by the family of Donta Taylor, a 31-year-old man who was fatally gunned down during a foot . A custom mouse and mousepad in the regalia of the Compton Executioners sheriff's deputy gang. The position theyre taking is making it difficult to get discovery. But Casey says his firm is determined to expose the truth. . complaint Alegria filed against the County. On June 21, 2020, about 500 protestors gathered at the intersection of Figueroa Street and West Redondo Beach Boulevard to march to the Compton Sheriff Station. Instead he submitted a declaration saying that if he was called to testify, he would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights and not answer questions. The deputy didnt actually see a gun, but his suspect could turn out to be armed and an arrest or recovered firearm could pad his reputation. This was nothing more than a sport kill and an attempt to getting into this gang. On October 25, 2019, Deputy Gonzalez was promoted to Field Training Officer. Compton Deputy Samuel Aldama was forced to reveal his tattoo during a deposition about the Taylor case. In his letter, Huntsman noted that members of the Banditos were alleged to have been involved in a fight among deputies that broke out at Kennedy Hall in East L.A . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. When Gonzalez returned from his time off he was approached by Scheduling Sergeant Frank Barragan, who reprimanded him for using paid family leave to care for his daughter. The gang obtained a recording of his phone call placing the complaint. Los Angeles County settled with Taylor's family for $7million. The Compton Executioners is a deputy gang within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). Its supposed to be theyre stopping a threat, not punishing for something., Just got teargassed. They knew that a gang existed. In 2017, Gonzalez said, the Compton station captain at the time had turned to that deputy to boost arrest statistics after the captain was reprimanded for low numbers at the station. Compton Deputy Samuel Aldama was forced to reveal his tattoo during a deposition about the Taylor case. He filed a legal claim against the county in June alleging retaliation. [3] Contents. One month later, inked Executioner Edwin Barajas failed Battles out of the training. "This . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Gonzalez said in the deposition that Jaime Juarez, a deputy he identified as the Executioners shot caller, carried out a work slowdown last year when the acting captain refused to install a member as scheduling deputy. The Compton Executioners is a deputy gang within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department . Gonzalez says the scheme is employed in Compton by tattooed deputies who call themselves the Executioners, the clandestine gang many say runs the station. Vega accelerated towards them as they scattered. Los Angeles County settled with Taylor's family for $7million Some members might also use the 13/13 cipher (splitting the alphabet . Were going to call it, and a gun was never recovered.. The officers had matching "Executioners" tattoos to show allegiance to the faction. A tattoo on an LA. Because he wasn't a member or a prospect, Gonzalezwas allegedly passed up for better assignments and not given a better work schedule so he could care for his daughter, who has medical needs. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The judge hearing the case cited the evidence when tentatively deciding to advance the case for trial. Lucas said in a statement, I believe that government can do its part by being more timely and more transparent in sharing information that the public demands and has a right to see. He ruled Guardados death a homicide. Every deputy is going to come rolling. Aldama continued to chase Lockett into a backyard, where he cornered and severely beat him. . Hernandez climbed out of the vehicle and began to chase a few of the kids on foot. On January 20, 2016, Lockett was charged with attempted murder. When his father arrived, Alegria was arrested by another deputy who handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a patrol car. Several local government officials issued statements on the shooting. The county has denied allegations that the deputies beat the plaintiff, Sheldon Lockett, or used racial slurs against him during the incident in 2016. McDonnell went on to lose his bid for re-election to current Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who has a history with several gang affiliated deputies.

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