2 Additional Deputies Charged In Federal Civil Rights Probe
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Two additional Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies Friday were indicted on federal civil rights charges in connection to alleged abuse at the Men's Central Jail.
The charges accuse Joey Aguiar, 26, and Mariano Ramirez, 38, of illegally using force against an inmate and then attempting to cover up the incident with false reports that formed the basis of a false prosecution initiated against the victim, the United States District Attorney's Office said.
A grand jury returned the four-count indictment late Thursday; both men are scheduled to appear in federal court for arraignment on March 6.
According to the indictment, Aguiar and Ramirez illegally used force against the victim - identified as "BP" - during an incident in the jail on February 11, 2009. While the victim was handcuffed and secured with a "waist chain," the deputies allegedly punched and kicked the victim before using pepper spray on him. The defendants also are accused of striking him with flashlight.
Following the incident, the deputies allegedly wrote false reports intended to cover up the illegal use of force, officials said.
Other charges included in the indictment consist of conspiring to violate civil rights and falsification of records.
In December, 18 former and current deputies were federally indicted for alleged crimes, including conspiracy to obstruct justice and assaulting inmates.
All of the accused deputies have pleaded not guilty with their cases heading to trail later this year.
KCAL9's Brittney Hopper went to Lancaster to speak to the alleged victim of the beating by the two deputies charged today. He called saying he wanted to tell his story, but then he backed out, according to Hopper.
A man named Brett Phillips from Lancaster talked to KPCC radio earlier today. He says he was the inmate who was left in a pool of blood while being held at the Men's Central Jail in 2009.
"I had stitches in my head, my lower back was hurting. I was just sore all over. I still got the scars on my wrists from like the handcuffs, they were so tight," said Phillip
