Instead of investigating her claim, the department began investigating her. The same crew also allegedly hatched a plan to overload deputies who did not obey the Banditos with emergency calls. On October 25, 2012, her car was vandalized while parked at the East LA Station. On social media, the deputies have been mocked as rats.. Orange says he doesnt think Lacey was interested in prosecuting police officers. Patrelli refused to accompany Lopez to the meeting or send any other union representation saying, You should be grateful that Commander Romero is willing to meet with you!. "Pretty much they were calling the shots, they were dictating the decisions of the station and that has a very bad outcome obviously," he said. Smith says that current Sheriff Alex Villanueva reached out to Gonzalez after taking office and assisted her with study for the Sergeants exam. His return, along with the elevation of other Banditos associates, solidified the gangs grip on the station. If she didnt comply, she wouldnt pass her probationary period and it could be extended indefinitely. Deputy Woodrow Kim, who was listed as a witness, stated Saavedra was lying about the claim in the IA investigation. Based on the information that I have, that is incorrect. The next time she heard from Patrelli, she informed Lopez that Wolak wouldnt be sending her to the hospital location after all. Munoz, Moran, and Rodriguez cornered Gonzalez and pressured him to leave the station. And any time youre a Black man, somebody calling you a monkey, in my book, thats racism, Orange tells Knock LA. In a conversation with LAist, the new sheriff acknowledges that, as an outsider, "I have my work cut out for me" in winning the support of the department's rank-and-file. The station has been home to several deputy gangs, including the Little Devils, Cavemen, and newest addition, the Banditos. During her first two weeks of training, Valdez assigned Lopez to work a shift with Deputy Christopher Wargo, who was a prospect or puppy of the Banditos. Patrelli contacted her again and told her that she would actually be going to the County Services Bureau USC Hospital location. In March and April 2018, two of the plaintiffs, deputies Louis Granados and Benjamin Zaredini, were "alarmed by the increasingly hostile and violent nature" of the Banditos' activities, the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs originally filed claims in 2019, stating they had been attacked, beaten, and denied backup as a result of refusing to cooperate with the gang. He said that Villanueva did not discuss the problems at the station with him. "They see who is eager to belong, who they can manipulate, who they can control easily," he said. The Executioners were It says about 30 members and prospects work at the East L.A. station, adding the others work elsewhere or have retired. She immediately began to experience chest pains and shortness of breath, and was diagnosed with a stress-induced pre-heart attack condition. In reality, Villanueva sent notices to terminate Banditos Rafael Munoz, Gregory Rodriguez, and David Silverio, as well as discipline plaintiff deputies in what appears to be retaliation. The lawsuit contends that even with the new leadership, the Banditos still effectively run the East L.A. station and that it remains a hostile workplace. 2023 Southern California Public Radio - All Rights Reserved, assertions made in legal claims filed in March and May, A Los Angeles Family Seeks Answers And Accountability After Black Mom Dies In Childbirth, A Brief History Of Why It Does Occasionally Snow In LA. Granados and Zaredini both suffered retaliation for blowing the whistle, according to the complaint. Going back to 2016, the lawsuit alleges, the Banditos repeatedly denied backup to the plaintiff deputies on dangerous calls, pressured them to quit or leave the station and sent hostile messages on work computers. Two weeks after the ceremony, the Banditos gang removed ammunition from Deputy Zaredinis shotgun. The lawsuit describes in detail how members of the "Banditos" clique allegedly control station operations. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. In one of the more explosive allegations, the lawsuit claims Banditos declined to provide backup to deputies they don't like, endangering them and the public. She was able to maintain control of the weapon but fell backwards into a wall, hitting the back of her head. She'd gone into the pregnancy with a plan, knowing Black mothers like herself were at higher risk. Mismanagement, Sloppy Hiring Practices, Lack Of Transparency. Lopez filed a complaint against LA County in 2014 and eventually settled for $1.5 million, funded by taxpayers. She signed up to take the sergeants exam to seek a promotion in July 2013, but was unable to take it because of continued harassment, despite her not coming into the station regularly. The new defendants represent a significant expansion of the civil rights and workplace harassment And that was on purpose because they had failed in their job to lead the station.. When Lemus went to Captain Chavez with a complaint, Chavez told her he liked how Mendoza controlled the line. Afterwards, he and Lieutenant Anthony Easter reopened a citizen complaint against Lemus where a victim charged she had taken too long to take him to the hospital. All eight requested transfers out of East L.A. and moved to other stations earlier this year, according to their attorney, Vincent Miller. 4:30 p.m.: This article was updated to include Sheriff Villanueva's June comments about the Banditos. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. Terms of Use It says Banditos denied them backup, Granados was denied a promotion he had earned and Zaredini was stripped for a time of his position as a training officer. She was very damaged by what happened, he tells Knock LA. Valdez appears to currently work as a sergeant at a different station. She even contends that Hish manipulated her score in order to keep her from moving up in rank. However, he and Deputy Louis Granados reported harassment that they had observed at the hands of Banditos to Captain (then Lieutenant) Richard Mejia. Hernandez pointed at her body and turned to another male deputy saying, Look at these! and, What do you think, bro? He said to Lopez, What are you going to do about it? Inspector General Max Huntsman said that the investigation almost completely ignored evidence of the involvement of the Banditos which led to the assaultive conduct at Kennedy Hall, and that the investigation into the Banditos was a cover up by the sheriff and LASD. When Contreras reported this to Captain Mejia, he instead suggested that Contreras ride with Deputy Juan Sanchez instead, who is allegedly affiliated with a street gang, as well as being an inked Banditos member. into that and other alleged cliques within the department. Those who do not are pushed out. According to the complaint, Mendoza also conducted personal business while on duty and ordered her to do his work. Deputy gangs have existed within the LASD for at least 50 years. He slammed his hands on the side of the vehicle and said, What the fuck is wrong with you? Lopez states in her complaint that around this time, she became the subject of sexual harassment by male deputies. There are 30 alleged members of the Executioners operating from the Compton station. County lawyers instructed the deputy not to answer questions about whether he has the Executioners tattoo, which is a skull with a rifle and a military-style helmet, surrounded by flames. Gray was charged and prosecuted for intentionally obstructing a law enforcement officer from performing their duties. A new policy is meaningless if you dont actually enforce it, said Miller, the attorney representing the deputies. However, the inquiry did not examine the allegations of withholding backup, according to the complaint. Dispatch refused to respond to her calls or provide backup. Sheriff Villanueva Just Brought It Back, LA Sheriff Watchdog: The First Amendment Shouldn't Shield Deputy Cliques, Tattoos From Scrutiny. Murakami instructed Wolak to uphold the suspension on Villanuevas orders. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. Dear reader, we're asking you to help us keep local news available for all. Members have gang nicknames and use slang like ese and homes when speaking with each other. Moore allegedly reported the attack directly to Banditos shot caller Raymond Mendoza. WebThe East Los Angeles Sheriffs station has the most documented history of deputy gangs. At at Civilian Oversight Commission meeting in May, Villanueva said the Banditos clique no longer exists at East L.A. station. During the course of the investigations, the complaint alleges multiple Banditos members and associates lied about their knowledge of the gang and said they did not see the attacks. The L.A. County Sheriffs Department Inspector General has identified dozens of deputies who are allegedly members of gang-like groups that operate out of the East L.A. and Compton stations. She contacted the Back to Work Unit but was told they could not help her, and advised her to contact the station Director. He met his wife and the mother of his children in LA. Mejia also claimed to have forgotten texts and phone calls he received from Deputy Oscar Escobedo reporting the hostile work environment. Im not bothering anybody. Once she rejected them, they retaliated against her. In November 2011, Deputy Andrew Hernandez, a Banditos associate, leered at Lopezs breasts in the hallway as she was leaving the womens locker room. Banditos "intentionally fail to provide back-up during emergency situations and other dangerous calls to purposely place deputies in dangerous circumstances," the suit says. The refusal to provide backup created "close calls" that almost got deputies killed, according to the suit. A CBS News investigation has uncovered allegations of gangs existing within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, possibly for decades. Its just smoke and mirrors, its just a pretend at reform.. Deputy Joshua Smilor, a Banditos associate, told her that she needed to call Valdez, Daddy and that she needed to submit to the program of his kids. Deputy Ortega informed her that there were were explicit photos of other women in the department having oral sex with Banditos members working as training officers. Youve got people who were put in leadership positions who were basically there to hide and minimize and cover up the extent of the deputy gang problem.. However Deputy Brian Goodwin, Commander Chris Blasnek, and Commander James Wolak rigged the investigation to support a seven-day suspension of Zaredini, according to the lawsuit. As she was completing a victim interview, Hernandez began cursing at her. Gonzalez was transferred to the Norwalk Station, but no action was taken against the sergeants. Immediately afterwards, then Banditos prospect Hector Little Listo Saavedra allegedly claimed Zaredini called him a homophobic slur over one year prior. Deputy gangs, or The money has been used for legal fees for some defendants in the claim and vacations for Banditos members to Thailand. The sheriffs department declined to comment on the allegations. Rodriguez was rehired despite being charged with falsifying the police report concerning the unlawful detainment and beating of Christopher Gray. The L.A. County Sheriffs Department Inspector General has identified dozens of deputies who are allegedly members of gang-like groups that operate out of the East L.A. and Compton stations. Commander Ernie Chavez has admitted Villanueva did not transfer any Banditos, nor ask Chavez to investigate. Privacy Policy. Later he was asked: To your knowledge, you were not brought in to quell the Banditos situation, correct?. Huntsman told The Times that about a third of the 41 deputies on his list admitted that they had tattoos or belonged to the groups; the rest were identified by other sworn personnel in statements to sheriffs investigators. You meet up with us when we tell you to! Her answers didnt satisfy him and he told her, Fuck you! and, You are on your own! Around January 16, 2012, Deputy Benjamin Zaredini attempted to knock Lopez to the floor while she was carrying a loaded shotgun. Orange says that Gray told himhe was beaten by several deputies. SEE MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON LA'S DEPUTY GANGS: Our news is free on LAist. Bandito FTOs would demand taxes, handing their trainees empty envelopes and telling them to fill them with money, sometimes up to $2,000, by the end of the day. LASD has never thoroughly investigated allegations of gang corruption, and this case is no exception, Huntsman told The Times. Your tax-deductible financial support keeps our stories free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. Deputy Louis Granados claims that his number of calls went up in 2018 after he blew the whistle on the Banditos with Deputy Zaredini. Excerpts of Chavezs testimony were made public as part of a lawsuit brought by eight deputies who say they were routinely harassed by a gang of predominantly Latino deputies who have matching tattoos of a skeleton outfitted with a sombrero, bandolier and pistol. The claim states that Captain Mejia wrote a memo in June of 2018 to the County recommending an investigation into the Banditos. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. While Deputy Granados encountered other deputies firing guns at a suspect and pulled over his vehicle, he was written up for misconduct by Diana Woodward. brings new scrutiny to one of the most vexing problems at the nation's largest sheriff's agency: the existence of subgroups that date back decades and whose loyalty is more to the subgroup than law and order. She was assigned to the Los Angeles County Jail until transferring to the East LA Station in 2011 where she began training to become a patrol officer, according to court documents. Jefferson Chow, who has been in the department for 26 years, was tasked with investigating a September 2018 fight between deputies at a department party at Kennedy Hall in East Los Angeles. 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 lawsuit also charges that Banditos shot caller Manny Navaro was hired to be Villanuevas driver, and that Bandito Joe Mendoza was promoted to Commander of LASD Media Relations., The Banditos grip on the station tightened in the months following Villanuevas swearing in. The disciplinary letters stemmed from an internal investigation into an East L.A. Sheriff's Station clique called "The Banditos," accused of operating like a gang. Contreras and the other plaintiffs requested transfers out of the station, which were denied without explanation for weeks. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Sheriff Alex Villanueva says he intends to fire or suspend 26 deputies for misconduct related to a 2018 attack by the "Banditos" deputy None of them appear to have been disciplined for the shootings. Pushed him up against the police car. In late December 2011, an on-duty Lopez reported to a priority call. Forty-seven Los Angeles County Sheriffs officials were added Monday as named defendants I went to the trial for a day or two and the Deputy DA who was trying the case had no partner. He was elected in 2018 after running as a progressive Democrat who would reform the department. The trainees were reportedly told that if they stole anything from a suspect, they should dispose of it outside of the station. While under oath in a deposition, Rauno confirmed that he sent the message to the group. 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