Keep Bailing

Tuesday, authorities announced that there would be a criminal investigation conducted in efforts to find out the truth behind allegations towards two Sheriff’s Deputies who beat an inmate unconscious at the Twin Towers Jail in Los Angeles.

On Monday, a statement was filed at the courthouse by an ACLU staffer who had visited the jail and claims to have witnessed the act which spawned the investigation.

The ACLU staffer, Esther Lim, stated that she saw two deputies through a window, who were unaware of her presence, and she was able to see them punching, kicking and tasering an inmate while his body appeared to be limp.

According to an internal sheriff’s log, the incident was confirmed to have happened on January 24, although the log further stated that the inmate was punching the deputies until they had no other choice by to tase him. Lim stated that the deputies’ log was distorted and that the inmate, James Parker, was completely lifeless and Lim worried that he was dead.

The allegations are suggesting that Lim, during the incident, heard the deputies repeatedly say in a monotone voice to “stop resisting” and to “stop fighting” and it seemed as if they “were reading it from a script.”

Steve Whitmore, Sheriff’s spokesman, stated that the criminal investigation would be conducted internally and all information would be transferred to prosecutors. Whitmore said, “We didn’t know anything about this.” He also added that the ACLU staffer should have reported this immediately.

According to Lim, the ACLU receives reports all the time from inmates who accuse deputies of beating them and repeating the phrase “stop resisting” even when they aren’t resisting.  She also suspects that those deputies involved have continued to repeat that phrase in order to save themselves upon allegations such as these.

Unfortunately, these types of allegations are hard to prove since the only witnesses are usually the inmates and they are considered less credible.

However, this specific incident has a third party witness. According to court records, one of the accused officers is Ryan Hirsch. The other deputy has only his last name revealed which is “Ochoa.” Whitmore declined to confirm. He also revealed that both deputies have remained on active duty except for one deputy who is on medical leave due to a broken hand, caused from the incident.

James Parker, 35, is being kept separated from the staff and other inmates of the jail as to “maintain the integrity” of the investigation, according to Whitmore. Parker received stitched on his face, a swollen cheek and eye, and pain in his ribs.

Another inmate, Christopher Brown, who was to meet with Lim that day also witnessed and disputed the deputies’ statement. Brown revealed that Ochoa was there during the interview for his witness statement and felt he was being intimidated although the Sheriff’s Department has denied this.