(John Sweeney) BY ALENE TCHEKMEDYIANSTAFF WRITER FEB. 19, 2022 3:32 PM PT A Los Angeles County sheriff' s deputy associated with the gang-like group of deputies with matching tattoos from Compton station testied that he has attended about seven so-called inking parties since he rst saw the . There were inking parties and celebrations.. The attack was also allegedly done to raise the reputation of the gang. In February 2020, Contreras was working as a Field Training Officer. . The charges against Alegria were dropped at a preliminary hearing. Although the names have changed, these groups all participate in the systematic terrorization of the communities they are sworn to serve and protect. Average arrests per deputy in Compton went up from 2.5 arrests per month to 7. The deputies said that they took him into custody and transported him in a manner outside of policy because they were afraid the group would try to help Alegria. As they drove, the deputies spotted a group of teenagers on bikes. [3], Members of the Executioners are deputies operating out of the Compton station of the LASD. Gonzalez, 42, joined the department as a deputy in 2008. The claim says the group sporting tattoos of a skull with Nazi imagery and an AK-47 . I could see the look on their faces, theyre looking at us like we were trash, like we were the enemy.. UPDATE: came to speak with the manager. . The county settled the case with Taylor's family for $7 million. He added the department has gone through great lengths to rid itself of similar groups. Especially in the South command district that is Compton Station, the Century Station, South LA Station, and the East LA Station. Waldie told Juarez that he would not be intimidated by the gang. In 2016, Gonzalez attempted to get time off of work in order to care for his daughter. There are 30 alleged members of the Executioners operating from the Compton station. In their depositions, Glickman said Aldama testified that his tattoos No. In the months after, both deputies committed brutal acts of violence against Black men. Gonzalez says this placed him further at risk because the entire station now knew the investigators were there. Tattooed in Ho Chi Minh City. On June 21, 2020, about 500 protestors gathered at the intersection of Figueroa Street and West Redondo Beach Boulevard to march to the Compton Sheriff Station. [3] Contents. Alegria says that the deputies did not radio in about the chase. Deputies refused to partner with him, while an inked deputy in dispatch saddled him with calls. Gonzalez states in his claim that during this time he was partnered with Deputy Iliana Vargas, who was Juarezs girlfriend. In his deposition, Gonzalez identified Miguel Vega, the Compton station deputy who killed 18-year-old Andres Guardado in a shooting in June that sparked weeks of protests, and his partner, Chris Hernandez, as prospective members of the Executioners. The gang recruits deputies based on their use of violence against criminalsuspects and fellow deputies and nearly all its members have been involved in high-profile shootings, according to the claim. He was taken to the hospital almost one hour later and given stitches. A violent gang of Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies who call themselves "The Executioners" control a patrol station in Compton through force, threats, work slowdowns and acts of revenge . Members each have a tattoo of a skeleton wearing a Nazi helmet emblazoned with the letters CPT. Between March and April 2020, Gonzalez says Barragan called him and said that he was going to be placed on the early morning shift. But Waldie was later overruled and Juarez returned to Compton. A tattoo on an LA. On August 25, 2016, Samuel Aldama, a sheriff's deputy from the Compton station with an Executioners tattoo, and his partner fatally shot Donta Taylor, an African American man walking on the sidewalk . Had that been investigated Donta Taylor would still be alive, Sweeney said. "Skeletons, which is a symbol of death, there were flames coming out of . Furthermore, Gonzalez claims the punishment was served to him by the Executioners, a group of deputies with the same tattoos, which are a powerful force at the Compton station, the LA Times reports. A gang of sheriff's deputies called the "Executioners, has "permeated" a Los AngelesCounty Sheriff's Department patrol station and has engaged in civil rights abuses against the public, according to a claim filed with county officials last week. LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas also called for an independent investigation. They encircled us and basically trapped us in there, says Gonzalez. The following day, Locketts mother filed a citizens complaint against Aldama and Orrego for using unconstitutional excessive force. "The results of the investigation will be released when legally permissible.". Aldama says he pulled next to Taylor and asked if he was on parole or probation, to which Taylor said, Im not, pulled out a gun, and ran. The existence of such fraternities has sparked multiple internal investigations and recently a federal probe by the FBI, but the groups have remained entrenched, with many civil liberties advocates accusing the Sheriffs Department of turning a blind eye. In 2000, the city disbanded its police force after struggling to contain rising crime and gang violence. There has been an uptick just in the last 15 years of these police shootings. Sweeney believes the search was the result of the Departments desperation to make a case against Lockett. In a statement later, Villanueva said he ordered an investigation. There was nobody being arrested. If you have an emergency or you want to make sure that every deputy hears your conversation with the dispatcher, you ask for the patch and they patch you into every deputy on duty in Compton. The proceeding was intended to be a judicial examination of the incident. A vast majority of members and prospects, he said, have been involved in high-profile shootings or beatings. In June, a claim filed by Deputy Sheriff Austreberto Gonzalez against Los Angeles County said that a gang which calls itself the Executioners consists of a fifth of the 100 deputies at the Compton Station (CPT). Maya Lau is a former investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she focused on rapid-response investigations into the chaos inside the USPS, problems with signature verification on ballots and challenges of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Artists in Ho Chi Minh City. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, At least 5 people shot near San Pedro beach, Safety concerns and weather conditions hamper San Bernardino County relief efforts, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Californias snowpack is approaching an all-time record, with more on the way, This is me, this is my face: Actress Mimi Rogers on aging naturally, without cosmetic surgery, Officials unprepared for epic mountain blizzard, leaving many trapped and desperate. Similar deputy gangs have flourished in minority communities forseveral decades, according toLoyola Law School professor andLos Angeles County Civilian Commissionmember Sean Kennedy. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said during a live Facebook broadcast Wednesday that there is no gang of any deputies running any station. But he said that he was disturbed by the allegations in the claim and that swift administrative action is being taken. I think it is some type of reward, Gonzalez testified. Compton Deputy Samuel Aldama was forced to reveal his tattoo during a deposition about the Taylor case. . Deputies outfitted in riot gear surrounded the small group that had gathered and barricaded them in. Compton Executioners. He added later: So we call it ink chasers because theyre out there trying to show the rest of the members, the rest of the inked members that, you know, theyre worthy of that tattoo.. "Early on, the Sheriff invited the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct their own investigation and information is actively being shared with them," a department statement said. A further 20 deputies are close associates of the gang and considered to be "prospects." Members communicate exclusively through the encrypted message service WhatsApp. He threatened another FTO, Deputy Thomas Banuelos, which escalated into Contreras assaulting Banuelos while on duty. peterbilt 379 hood roller bracket. 1. new covid vaccines in the pipeline . Lucas said in a statement, I believe that government can do its part by being more timely and more transparent in sharing information that the public demands and has a right to see. He ruled Guardados death a homicide. L.A. Affairs: My divorce isnt contagious. "We're not going to tolerate any clique, any gang-like group of people, subgroup the only group that is acceptable wearing tan and green are deputy sheriff's serving the community," Villanuevasaid. Following The Times reporting, Compton officials issued formal requests to the state and federal attorney generals to investigate allegations of pervasive civil rights violations. [1][2] In July 2021, U.S. Congressional Representative Maxine Waters called for a Department of Justice inquiry into the existence of the gang. Gonzalez says in a complaint filed with the County that his supervisors would not have a conversation with Juarez about the time off request because of Juarezs gang ties. The Compton division of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department are under investigation after one deputy blew the whistle on fellow officers who reportedly threw secret parties and got . Aldama admitted under oath to having a tattoo on his calf depicting a skull with a rifle and a military-style helmet emerging from flames. View all. The deputies were assigned to Compton Station, and both would eventually testify to being tattooed with the skull-and-assault-rifle insignia that whistleblowers claim signifies membership in a violent deputy gang known as the Executioners. In 2019, for example, the county paid out $7 million to settle a wrongful death claim filed by the family of a man shot and killed by a deputy with an Executioners tattoo. Lockett was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and other gun charges and spent eight months in jail. follow. The powerful position, which Juarez had previously held, controls scheduling, days off and overtime, Gonzalez said. Gonzalez says the scheme is employed in Compton by tattooed deputies who call themselves the Executioners, the clandestine gang many say runs the station. Now, Locketts attorneys are citing Gonzalezs claim in a court filing seeking to reopen discovery, depose several deputies again and examine their WhatsApp accounts. Sweeney says Taylor ran out of fear. He remained in custody for about seven months. Market data provided by Factset. [1] [2] In July 2021, U.S. Congressional Representative Maxine Waters called for a Department of Justice inquiry into the existence of the gang. This article about a criminal organization is a stub. Aldama said in a deposition that about twenty other deputies at the Compton station had the same tattoo. [8], Members of the Executioners are drawn from deputies who work at the Compton station of the LASD. He saidhe also represents three other deputies who've made similar allegations of abuse and discrimination by the clique. Walsh said three Compton deputies, including Aldama and Orrego, have denied in other court proceedings that they were part of a clique and attributed their matching tattoos to serendipity.. "The net result is that the people in those communities end up being shot and stopped, their houses searched at a much greater rate than people in other communities, and it's all because the deputy gangs view themselves as at war with their community," Kennedy told KABC-TV. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The county has denied the allegations. John Sweeney, a civil rights attorney who has been practicing in the Los Angeles area for 40 years, says that the Department has continued to get worse. Aldama was transferred to another station, and appears to be working as a deputy today. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Sweeneys firm brought another excessive-force case involving the same deputies in the Taylor case, which is pending in federal court. This is a list of notable criminal gangs in Los Angeles, California.. Before joining The Times in 2016, she reported on crime and policing for the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader. July 4, 2022 compton executioners tattoobritish white cattle for sale in washingtonbritish white cattle for sale in washington The deputies pulled out their guns and chased him. Almost all the members sport a matching tattoo to . Were not going to put a pause or stop on anything unless the court tells us. He doesnt trust police officers. Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Accepting the deputys testimony, there is evidence that the clique existed in Compton and that it routinely violated the rights of suspects, Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh said in his ruling. Juraez refused to accommodate Gonzalezs request and placed him on an early morning shift that he could not complete without abandoning the needs of his child. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Gonzalezs statements were introduced in an excessive-force lawsuit filed against the Sheriffs Department by Sheldon Lockett. Some members might also use the 13/13 cipher (splitting the alphabet . In a Facebook video last week, Sheriff Alex Villanueva denied a gang of deputies were running the Compton station when asked specifically about the Executioners. The county has denied allegations that the deputies beat the plaintiff, Sheldon Lockett, or used racial slurs against him during the incident in 2016. Gonzalez accepted the transfer to DB and saw it as an opportunity to get away from the gang. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against the deputies who Miller says attacked his clients. Its supposed to be theyre stopping a threat, not punishing for something., Just got teargassed. Romero alleges that the same image was found on a mouse pad and pencil holder at the station desk of someone belonging to the Executioners. suzette malveaux married; centros de mesa con flores artificiales; housing in naples, italy . Deputy Art Gonzalez , who worked in LASD for five years, is the whistleblower who filed a government claim . In early 2016, he was working at the Superior Grocers in the Crenshaw area. The next day, two investigators came to the station unannounced and requested to speak with Gonzalez at the front desk. These deputies share a tattoo, which features a skeleton . It was one of the first instances of retaliation that continued for months, exacted by the Executioners, a band of deputies with matching tattoos that wields vast power at the Compton station, he alleged in a claim filed against Los Angeles County. During a video deposition, Deputy Art Gonzalez testified that 15 deputies at the Compton Sheriff's Station belong to 'The Executioners.'. "This is all taxpayer money, so yes, the taxpayers should be very worried,"John Sweeney, who deposed Aldama and obtained the photo of Aldama's tattoo, told KABC-TV. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles County sheriff's Compton patrol station "has been permeated" by a violent deputy gang called the "Executioners," according to a new legal claim. At the Compton sheriffs station, its called a ghost gun: a weapon a deputy says he spots on a suspect but that is never found when colleagues respond to the scene and search for it. Representatives Maxine Waters and Nanette Diaz Barragn released a joint statement calling on then California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to independently investigate Guardados killing. This is five years post arrest, he still has those same unabated symptoms.. Rand Corp., a nonprofit research agency, has also been studying the clique culture and plans to publish its report in January. Lieutenant John Satterfield, a spokesman for the department, told the Los Angeles Times that the Sheriffs response team secured the parking lot of a business at the request of a manager. Vega drove the car quickly through a narrow alley but there was a car parked next to a concrete wall and he crashed the patrol vehicle, smashing Alegrias head into the case divider. Furthermore, Gonzalez claims the punishment was served to him by the Executioners, a group of deputies with the same tattoos, which are a powerful force at the Compton station, the LA Times reports. Sweeney says that the LASD never found the person responsible for the driveby that initiated the incident. Seven months after Samuel Aldama and Mizrain Orrego unlawfully detained and beat Sheldon Lockett, they killed another man in Compton. In July 2021, U.S. Congressional Representative Maxine Waters called for a Department of Justice inquiry into the existence of the gang. Vega fired his weapon at Guardado six times, striking him five times in the back. The gang wanted control over that position because the deputy was responsible for assigning shifts and granting days off. He sued in 2018. Before joining the department, he served in the Marine Corps. He came within a fraction of an inch of being one of those statistics, Sweeney says. It was so obvious that, you know, we all noticed that.. Andrew Haney, who worked at the body shop and witnessed the shooting, told LA Taco that Guardado got to his knees and was shot by a deputy. LOS ANGELES (AP) Los Angeles police fatally shot a 14-year-old girl who was inside a clothing store dressing room Thursday as they fired at a suspect who had assaulted a woman earlier, authorities said. It essentially controls scheduling, the distribution of informant tips, and assignments to deputies in the station with preference shown to members of the gang as well as prospects.. For decades, a subculture of matching tattoos has been rooted in the Sheriffs Department, where secret societies have been accused of glorifying an aggressive style of policing. Samuel Aldama, a tattooed member of the Executioners, testified under oath that he had ill feelings towards African Americans. Andrs Guardado, 18. Thats because the call-out is based on a lie. Several local government officials issued statements on the shooting. Market data provided by Factset. The tattoos feature a skull, Nazi images and an AK-47. When Gonzalez complained to Scheduling and Training Sergeant Lopez about the situation, Lopez informed him that he would support Juarez. Members become inked as Executioners after executing members of the public, or otherwise committing acts of violence in furtherance of the gang.. Gonzalezwas never asked to join, Romero said. 38 was a nod to his first gun; Orregos said his tattoo, which was covered up, was never numbered and he got it in solidarity with Aldama, his friend who had cancer; and Deputy Rogelio Benzors tattoo has a No.