- The Los Angeles County Sheriff said he would investigate a Los Angeles Times reporter.
- Alain Chekmedian wrote last month that LASD reportedly tried to cover up the use of force against a prisoner.
- Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva accused the reporter of “criminal intent” over the article.
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The Los Angeles County Sheriff announced an investigation by a Los Angeles Times reporter after she wrote a story about the alleged cover-up by the video department documenting the use of force against a prisoner in handcuffs.
In late March, LA Times reporter Alain Chekmedian wrote about the video, which showed a deputy kneeling on a prisoner’s head for three minutes after he punched the deputy in the face, citing inside records.
The incident happened in March 2021, and Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who is seeking re-election for a second term, said he did not know about it until October.
The unit has not filed charges against the prisoner “due to his character and resemblance to the widely advertised use of force by George Floyd,” Commander Alan Castellano said in a note received from the publication.
Villanueva’s investigation examines the way the video was obtained by Chekmedian; the county sheriff claims the video is “stolen property.”
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Villanueva said the investigation would address allegations of conspiracy, burglary and unauthorized use of a database against Chekmedian, retired LASD commander Eli Vera and Sheriff’s Inspector General Max Huntsman. Screenshot from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Facebook page
“This is stolen property that has been seized illegally by people who had some intent – criminal intent – and will be the subject of an investigation,” Villanueva added.
Vera, who opposes Villanueva in the sheriff’s election, said the current sheriff knew about the incident “for days”. Huntsman is investigating whether Villanueva lied about the incident and issued a subpoena to the sheriff for testimony or records.
The LASD declined to comment on the investigation, but told Insider that “Sheriff Alex Villanueva is committed to transparency and accountability.”
Kevin Merida, executive editor of the LA Times, said in a statement that “Villanueva’s attempt to criminalize news reports runs counter to a well-established constitutional law.”
“We will vigorously defend the rights of the Chekmedian and Los Angeles Times in any procedure or investigation initiated by the authorities,” Merida said.
The LA Times responded to the announcement of the investigation by sending a letter to the sheriff in protest, citing court rulings defending Chekmedian and her reporting.
“This outrageous allegation appears to be a subtle attempt to intimidate Ms. Chekmedian into reporting obscene (but completely accurate) information about the behavior of individuals in your department and allegations of cover-up by you and other employees,” said General Councilor Jeff Glaser. it says in the letter.
David Loy, legal director of the Nonprofit First Amendment Coalition, told the LA Times that the alleged cover-up of the department reported by Chekmedian was “a matter of public concern for which the press has an absolute right, if not an obligation, to report.” .
“I’m somewhat amazed because what the sheriff is doing reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the Basic Amendment Act,” Loy said. “It’s been settled for decades.”
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