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A former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy has been charged federally with extreme drive throughout a 2023 shoplifting investigation in Lancaster.
Trevor James Kirk, 31, of Santa Clarita, on June 24, 2023, at WinCo Meals, 740 W. Ave. After the confrontation at Ok 4, he was charged with deprivation of rights below coloration of legislation.
Later that day, whereas investigating a shoplifting criticism between a person and a lady that changed into a bodily dispute, Kirk “used extreme drive when he assaulted a lady and pepper sprayed her,” in response to a U.S. Division of Justice information launch.
Whereas the person was in custody, Kirk and an confederate have been filmed by the lady, recognized by the DOJ as JH.
JH informed the deputies that his video was being livestreamed on-line and that the deputies have been legally required to inform him what he was arrested for.
“Kirk then approached JH and, with out giving any instructions, tried to seize his telephone,” the report mentioned. “JH rotated, at which level Kirk grabbed JH by her arm, pulled his left arm behind her neck, and violently threw her to the bottom.”
Whereas on the bottom, Kirk places his knee on JH's shoulder. When the lady yelled at Kirk to “cease” and referred to as him an obscenity, “he threw his proper hand again right into a fist and mentioned, 'Cease otherwise you'll get punched within the face,'” the DOJ mentioned.
“Kirk allegedly pressed his knee into JH's neck and she or he mentioned, 'Get your neck [sic] Off n. . . Pricey my. . . I couldn't breathe,” the discharge added. “Whereas JH was upstairs, Kirk allegedly used his LASD radio to falsely report that he was in a 'battle'.”
JH allegedly pepper-sprayed Kirk twice within the face whereas he was in custody, regardless of Kirk's official LASD report, which prosecutors mentioned was “deceptive.” attacked him and took a 'combating' or 'blading' stance.”
Video of the confrontation was launched within the following weeks, and whereas Kirk's lawyer mentioned the deputy's actions have been “completely justified,” L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna was not supportive, pointing to the video as proof.
Luna mentioned at a press convention following the discharge of the video. “There aren’t any ifs, ands, or buts about it.”
“When one officer violates one other particular person's civil rights, it undermines public security for all of us,” U.S. Lawyer Martin Estrada mentioned in a DOJ information launch.
“Officers have to be held accountable when constitutional rights are violated, and my workplace is dedicated to prosecuting those that abuse their authority and violate the general public's belief,” Estrada mentioned.
If convicted, Kirk faces a most sentence of 10 years in federal jail.