Injustices Committed by Deputies Who Lied About On-Duty Assault
How deputies joined in the cover-up of force that resulted in the death of two civilians
In the last few years, much truth has been coming to the light regarding the police behavior and all the wrongs they have been doing against the people of color and in their communities.
Attorney Generals around the country are spearheading investigations rooting out corrupt deputies and officers. Recently in Los Angeles, deputies have been accused of lying about on-duty assault and faced felony counts for filing false reports about a 2018 incident.
The two deputies, Woodrow Kim and Jonathan Miramontes falsified reports after Kim allegedly used the door of his patrol car to knock a suspect to the ground are being charged with assault under the color of authority, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Knowing they were wrong in using excessive force, all deputies conspired to cover up their indiscretions in their reports proves they were aware that their behavior was an unlawful illegal force under the guise of the badge. Kim, who committed excessive force against a citizen and falsified the reports, like a badge of honor the other policemen joined in with the deception, all conspired to cover up the crime.
As they are all due in court regarding this unlawful 2018 act that begun when they responded to an incident in East L.A. that reported that people inside a BMW had threatened someone with a gun and as the deputies pursued them in a chase that came to a halt in Ruben Salazar Park. A passenger fled on foot and the deputies pursued with their patrol car.
It was at this chase that Kim used the patrol driver’s side door and knocked the man to the ground and later Kim and the deputies lied on their reports about what happened but the specifics of these reports had not been readily available yet.
The two deputies, Kim and Miramontes, gave chase after the man, while the other deputies remained with the BMW. All falsified their report agreeing that the man got out of the driver’s seat and opened fire on the deputies. A shootout ensued, leaving the driver and another passenger who remained in the BMW dead. Two deputies and one law enforcement technician were injured.
According to a Sheriff’s Department spokesman, Kim and Miramontes have been relieved of duty and have “no peace officer powers.” In 2011, Kim was investigated for another on-duty incident where he used force on a jail inmate along with another deputy and a custody assistant. No criminal charges were filed due to the inconsistencies in the inmate’s statements.
In conclusion, these are the latest charges in a string of cases that have been brought against law enforcement officers in Los Angles county including other deputies from the Sheriff’s Department's East L.A. station. These deputies and officers while pending investigations, need to be placed on unpaid leave until the matter is resolved with the court or the property authority. Also, qualified immunity needs to be history as it has perpetuated law enforcement many indiscretions especially against people of color with the union protection.
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