San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Hit with $20 Million Suit

By San Diego Attorney on October 19, 2015

As a business many on vacation at Harrah’s Southern California Resort Hotel, Joven J. never expected to endure the incident that he did on his stay. After getting into a disagreement with another guest at his hotel, the police were called. The San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene and decided to charge Joven with simple battery.

The deputies broke up the altercation, handcuffed Joven, and began to escort him down the hallway of the hotel. Unhappy about the incident, Joven made a rude comment to one of the deputies walking him. What happened next was extremely shocking.

Snapping at the comment, one of the deputies grabbed Joven by the throat, slammed him against the wall, and then threw him to the ground. Still infuriated, the deputy began beating Joven in the head with what appeared to be his flashlight until he was unconscious on the ground. The entire incident was captured on the hotel’s security cameras.

Joven has reportedly suffered extensive brain injuries and a broken rib. He never fought back, made any aggressive movements at the deputies, or even said more than one comment. It only took one insult from a man being arrested on his vacation to spark the deputy’s rage.

Man Takes Action by Filing Lawsuit Against Deputy

In response to this serious incident and his extensive injuries, Joven had filed a $20 million federal lawsuit against the San Diego County Sherriff’s Department. Representation for Joven commented, saying, “They know they can kill somebody. If it was a civilian that did that to a policeman, they would be charged with attempted murder on a policeman.”

The incident isn’t the first time the San Diego County Sherriff’s Department has run into accusations of excessive and abusive force. Just last month in September, a motorist filed a claim against the department and a lawman that allegedly used excessive force against him, putting him in a bar-arm chokehold in a road rage incident. The officer was in civilian clothes and pulled up behind the man after he had tried to pass in nine miles before in El Cajon. He made the man get out of his car then began restricting his airflow in a chokehold. Witnesses to the scene called 911 on the deputy.

While police officers and deputies alike are expected to uphold the law, they too can act out in a criminal manner. If you have been arrested and treated with excessive force, you need to report the incident and retain a qualified criminal lawyer in Vista or San Diego right away.

Call JD Law for representation from a board certified criminal law specialist.