Dozens interviewed in L.A. County jail deputies brawl
Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said Friday that they have conducted more than 150 interviews in connection with a fight that broke out among Men's Central Jail employees at a Christmas party at a Montebello banquet hall.
The internal criminal investigation into the Dec. 10 brawl, which left several injured, is ongoing though officials expect it to wrap up sometime in February.
The fight resulted in seven deputies, whose identities have not been released, being relieved of duty with pay pending the investigation.
About 100 guests, including sheriff's supervisors, had attended the party. As the night was winding down near midnight, Montebello police received an anonymous 911 call reporting violence in the parking lot.
Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said recently transferred Men's Central Jail Capt. Daniel Cruz may have been jostled as he tried to calm the situation, but was not injured.
At least two other deputies received medical attention, Whitmore said. Although Montebello police first responded to the scene, the Sheriff’s Department took over the investigation.
-- Robert Faturechi
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Baca is their boss...................so what do expect? Huh?
Posted by: geo88a | January 14, 2011 at 07:15 PM
More and more our government institutions take on the identity of it's populous.
The empire sure is crumbling quickly!
Posted by: headjazz | January 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM
I was there that and if Capt. Cruz claims he was "just trying to break up the fight" - he is LYING! He was drunk as a skunk and one of the instigators in the brawl. He will be "cleared" only because he is a Captain and Hispanic. Any other LASD employee would have been hung out to dry.
Posted by: 1750 HIGH POWER | January 14, 2011 at 07:29 PM
How unfortunate that the LASD believes they can investigate this incident without bias. One of the victims of the assault sustained very serious injuries. Anyone else would have been arrested for the crime and booked into jail. This IS a prison case and considered a serious crime. Why are the deputies involved not only free, but receiving their full pay? This is not a internal complaint or alleged misconduct, it is a criminal law violation and those responsible should be arrested and booked into jail as the law specifies. It's just another abuse of power by the department. Come on Baca, due the right thing for once...... The Montelbello Police Department should be investigating this case and should have arrested YOUR employees that committed the crime.
Posted by: Tinman | January 14, 2011 at 08:02 PM
Why did Montebello turn their responsibility over to the Sheriffs Department.
Posted by: James Andrews | January 14, 2011 at 09:55 PM
They are interveiwing many people because they want to get conflciting statements and thus when presented to the DA, they will not file. As the case will be too confusing with 100 people saying one thing and 50 others saying something different.
There is a method to the madness.
Under BACA rest assure they will get fired and/or prosecuted. i'm almost postive the deputy who was jumped on will not let this go away. UNLESS, they already opened up a checkbook.
Posted by: Mike | January 14, 2011 at 09:58 PM
1750 HIGH POWER, I hope your post will be traced so that you will be identified and terminated from the Sheriff's department. Racists like you have no business working in law enforcement.
Posted by: phoenixandrew | January 14, 2011 at 10:00 PM
At least they were beating each other up.
Posted by: viva zapaataa | January 14, 2011 at 10:06 PM
They were arguing about who smuggles in the most dope... seriously, that Sheriff shot in Cypress Park, took dope money. But the cops don't want to say that... Lee Baca thrives out the arrest related to peaceful marijuana smokers, but when his deputy's fight.... it's an "investigation". No arrests, i find that an abuse of the law. Not even 24 hours in the drunk tank like most normal humans would get.
Posted by: Montana Gold- | January 14, 2011 at 10:08 PM
Having "visited" the County Jail in downtown L.A. for a little while, I can say without reservation that the Sheriff's Dept is rife with a@#holes.
Posted by: Eric of Reseda | January 14, 2011 at 10:19 PM
Seriously - Why would anyone expect Montebello PD to enforce the law???
And, if Pancho, Jose o Barney Fife's violated the law - then apply the law FAIRLY and JUST!!! Doesn't matter if he's a Captain, Hispanic, or any other background or rank - Let the law and judicial process determine their punishment!!!
Posted by: Gem | January 14, 2011 at 10:20 PM
To 1750 high power....If you claim you were there then why don't you come forward to Sheriff Investigators and tell them your version. Stop being a coward by posting unanimous messages. This sounds like it was just a simple fight amongst warriors nothing else.
Posted by: Justafight | January 14, 2011 at 10:58 PM
If no one was desirous of prosecution at the time of the fight it is not necessary to take anyone to jail. This would just be considered a disturbance and mutual combat since all involved were fighting. If someone stated they wanted an arrest made for assult then they would have had to take someone to jail.
Posted by: Hunter22 | January 14, 2011 at 11:35 PM
The Sheriff Department shouldn't investigate itself. An outside independent agency should conduct this investigation.
Posted by: Philbomb | January 15, 2011 at 04:36 AM
justa fight between warriors??
drunken a$$holes that pretend to be heros and role models
they need to be arrested and jailed
scum of the earth
NO EXCUSE FOR THIS TYPE OF CONDUCT BY "SAFTEY EMPLOYEES"
Posted by: red | January 15, 2011 at 07:59 AM
Whats the big deal, this was an everyday occurance at Maywood PD.
Posted by: Bruce | January 15, 2011 at 08:40 AM
To justafight, It is against the law to fight period, you cant have physical altercations, even if you are a warrior.
Posted by: Christopher Golden | January 15, 2011 at 08:48 AM
Idiots.
What more can you say other than those police officers are, idiots.
Posted by: Ron | January 15, 2011 at 09:05 AM
And people wonder why the police are labeled as corrupt and paid way too much. In the world of normal everday americans if you started a fight at a company event, you would lose your job as well as go to jail. Yet like so many officers because of their job as ''leaders and role models in our community'' they are treated differently. And one may argue they put there lives on the line but that makes me wonder how are these officers solving crimes if it seems they are out causing them. Second why would you be paying as if you were on vacation if you were involved in a physical assault or brawl. Country of dreams is what America used to stand for but now it seems as if it is nothing more than a land of schemes.
Posted by: A normal American | January 15, 2011 at 09:25 AM
I DID give a very lengthy interview with investigators. The command staff at CJ is well aware of the 3000 crew and their criminal activities inside the jail. Honest employees have complained. The problem is the criminal activities go all the way up to the actual COMMANDER of MCJ (Cruz) who knows who is blowing the whistle. The only reason this is being investigated with any vigor is that these thugs took their brutality to the streets. This is NOT an isolated incident. They have been getting away with it ever since Cruz got promoted. There is a culture of RACISM at MCJ but it isn't the white deputies who are doing it, it is the now majority Hispanic deputies. Nearly all the deputies involved in this are Hiapanic, that can't be denied.
Posted by: 1750 HIGH POWER | January 15, 2011 at 09:48 AM
And for the Record - I am HISPANIC.
Posted by: 1750 HIGH POWER | January 15, 2011 at 09:50 AM
This is another example of one of the biggest gangs in LA committing crimes. These guys are gang members but are protected by their dishonored badge. Its a crying shame how they get away with criminal acts day in and day out. If those that where the badge and allow the criminal element among them get away with criminal acts they are just as guilty. Shame on you and your gang that where your colors.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | January 15, 2011 at 10:12 AM
If fighting in public is a crime, and they did that, then they should not be police officers. Clean up our streets from the top down please.
Posted by: Zeolit | January 15, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Suspended........WITH PAY...........wow, I wish I could get a high paying job like that, screw up, then get suspended with pay !
Suspended with pay..........sounds like a pension. How about suspended without pay, then fired without pension.
When will the public realise that most of the police in LA are NOT hero's, just overpaid prima donna's who want the public to think that they are in a war zone everyday, just fighting for survival to get home at night.
Posted by: phil | January 15, 2011 at 11:12 AM
@1750 HIGH POWER oh please, Hispanic? No sir, because he is a CAPTAIN is why he will be ' cleared.' Racists like you have no business working in law enforcement
Posted by: Tom | January 15, 2011 at 11:17 AM