ACLU asks for federal investigation into alleged inmate beating at jail
The American Civil Liberties Union called for a federal investigation Thursday into allegations that two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies beat an unconscious inmate for two minutes at a County Jail last month. ACLU officials said they hope the United States attorney's office will get involved because the Sheriff's Department "has proven itself to be completely unwilling to investigate its own deputies aggressively."
Last month, Esther Lim, an ACLU staffer, filed a statement in court after witnessing the alleged beating while visiting the downtown Los Angeles jail on unrelated business. Lim said she looked through a window and saw two deputies punching and kicking an inmate while his body was limp "like he was a mannequin." The deputies seemed to be unaware of her presence, she said in the statement.
An internal sheriff's log appeared to confirm the Jan. 24 incident, but stated that the inmate was punching the deputies and remained combative until he was Tasered. Lim called the deputies' account a fabrication. James Parker remained so still during the beating, she said, that she worried he was dead.
Authorities announced a criminal investigation soon after.
After the ACLU publicized the incident, sheriff's officials questioned why Lim and the ACLU did not immediately report it given the severity of their allegations. ACLU attorney Peter Eliasberg said their statements implied doubt in the veracity of Lim's claims. If the deputies are eventually charged, ACLU officials said, prosecutors would be put into the awkward position of having their key witness' credibility questioned by the agency whose investigation they would be basing their case on.
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore, one of at least two officials who have asked why the ACLU waited to report the incident, said Thursday that he stood by his prior comments, calling the question a "reasonable" one.
The Sheriff's Department is open to federal investigators getting involved, he said.
Allegations of deputy brutality in county jails are common, but hard to substantiate. Aside from other deputies, usually the only witnesses are inmates, whose accounts are inherently considered less credible, experts say.
This incident offers a rare instance in which a third party was present to observe.
Parker, the inmate, was charged with felony counts of battery and resisting an officer in connection with the incident.
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EDITOR'S PICKS:
It's always nice to see the ACLU wasting taxpayer money over the animals we keep in cages riling each other up.
Posted by: Bob Vance | February 17, 2011 at 05:19 PM
This happens every day in the los angeles county jails.The sheriffs from MCJ and NCCF reading this know what im talking about.
Posted by: SUR13 | February 17, 2011 at 05:57 PM
We need a good old fashioned taxpayer protest against the ACLU and have it de-funded.
Posted by: BLM | February 17, 2011 at 06:02 PM
Lim's accusations have some serious flaws in in.
If this is true why not stop the deputies from doing what they were doing?
Why didn't she render immediate aid to the inmate?
Why didn't she immediately report the deputies to ANY authorities?
Why didn't she immediately go to the court to file that statement in court?
Why did she wait so long to call for a federal investigation?
This ACLU staffer has some serious credibility issues to overcome until she can be believed.
Posted by: u know | February 17, 2011 at 06:04 PM
Did you ever notice that the ACLU is silent when prisoners attack a guard? Do only illegals and other criminals have rights?
Posted by: mediocre | February 17, 2011 at 06:12 PM
The ACLU hates this country and is only committed to being a nuisance to those of us who desire a sane society. The ACLU is all about tearing down, not building up. If they would put just 10% of their energy into actually doing something positive, it could do wonders. If there's a heaven and a hell....the ACLU is in big trouble.
Posted by: Mister Chris | February 17, 2011 at 06:55 PM
What is needed is a federal investigation into the ACLU.
Posted by: Ann Common | February 17, 2011 at 06:56 PM
i'm asking for the federal government to investigate the finances of the aclu!
Posted by: kuruc | February 17, 2011 at 07:16 PM
There needs to be an investigation, police and sherrifs deputies are known for being overly aggressive to the public so you can only inmagine there lack of restrait when dealing with an incarserated individual. But we are a civilized society and this kind of behavior should not be tolerated and needs to be at least investigated, especially since the witness has excellent credibility.
Posted by: The Searcher | February 17, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Wow, the ACLU at it again. The question to whether why the ACLU waited so long to report the incident, is indeed very reasonable one. I bet that in the heat of the moment, everyone's perception is slightly different than that of another. Has anyone ever been involved in an altercation where multiple things are happening at once? I have, and let me tell you, sometimes you see things that others might not have because of your angle. So it's obvious she didn't see what the Deputies had to deal with FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I think this so called ACLU person might have misinterpreted what they saw because maybe, just maybe she had no idea that the inmate was rigid and not complying with deputies orders. After all, she wasn't the one going hands on. It's easy to judge something like that when your life is not in danger........ One more thing and this is getting off the topic but maybe some people might want to walk in the projects of south central LA on a Sunday stroll just for kicks.
Posted by: ham alvarez | February 17, 2011 at 07:48 PM
Typical ACLU "kook",saw the end and not the beginning.
Posted by: john | February 17, 2011 at 08:11 PM
Well, if this really happened, I'm sure the posters below would not have wanted it to happen to them, nor would anyone. MY question is: Why isn't there a video surveillance system installed at the jail to determine the truth? That seems like a no-brainer to me. It would protect both sides.
Posted by: sensible shawn | February 17, 2011 at 10:03 PM
She didn't say anything right there because she was probably afraid of the sheriff's beating her up too!
Posted by: SUR13 | February 17, 2011 at 10:59 PM
The truth is, the ACLU has gone from a legitimate champion of civil rights to a litigious organization only interested in financial gain. It occasionally champions a true civil rights case now and again to present a legitimate claim to its original roots. In a case I am familiar with, the ACLU sued the CHP over racial profiling. The ACLU, not the CHP, settled for $800,ooo. The 2 accusers each got $50,000. The ACLU got the $700,000 remainder. Who got paid there? The ACLU or the so-called victims?
Posted by: drrod | February 18, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Oh, and what is the point of beating an unconscious person? If they can't feel the incentive not to resist, what is the point? This sounds like an ACLU lawyer looking to get paid at our expense. But then again, that is what they are all about.
Posted by: drrod | February 18, 2011 at 11:15 AM