New Video Emerges of Confrontation Between Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies and Civilians
Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating a use of force incident that occurred in a Lancaster grocery store parking lot on June 24. Video footage captured by witnesses and body-worn cameras has shed light on the encounter, which involved deputies attempting to detain a man and woman who matched the description of robbery suspects.
According to the department, deputies from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station responded to a 911 report of a robbery at a WinCo store on West Avenue. Upon arrival, they located a man and woman in the parking lot who matched the description provided by store security. As they tried to detain the suspects, the situation escalated into a use of force incident.
Body-worn camera footage shows deputies placing the man in handcuffs before approaching a woman who appeared to be recording the arrest on her phone. The woman can be heard telling the deputies, “You can’t touch me,” before being grabbed. Witnesses captured video of her being thrown to the ground seconds later.
“It’s not a fight. You threw me down to the ground. Stop manhandling me,” the woman can be heard saying before she was sprayed with pepper spray by the deputies.
Michelle Garrett, a witness who recorded the encounter, stated that she heard loud talking at the front of the store before law enforcement arrived. She then saw the man and woman being approached by deputies in the parking lot and began recording from her car.
“It was really intense. It was scary,” Garrett said of the incident. “I just couldn’t believe my eyes. When he slammed her down, I was like ‘Ah, my god.'”
Garrett clarified that she does not personally know the man and woman involved in the incident.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has opened an investigation into the incident and has since released the body-worn camera footage as part of their commitment to transparency. The department has stated that Sheriff Luna expects all personnel to treat members of the public with dignity and respect and will hold those who do not uphold these standards accountable.
Both deputies involved in the incident have been reassigned from field duty pending further administrative review.
As of now, it is unclear whether the two individuals seen in the video were arrested or what led to the initial robbery report and 911 calls. NBCLA has reached out to both the department and WinCo for further clarification on the matter but has not received a response as of Tuesday afternoon.