California
by Sharelle Burt

July 5, 2023

Los Angeles Deputy Drags Black Woman Down To The Ground In New Viral Video

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in California is investigating the use of force on a Black man and woman suspected of robbing a grocery store, MyNewsLA.com reports.

Video of the incident started to circulate on social media showing deputies from the Lancaster, California Sheriff’s Station placing a man in handcuffs who matched the description of one of the suspects given by the store’s security. Suddenly, one of the deputies approached the woman, who was recording. As she is heard telling the officer not to touch her, he violently slams her to the ground.

While in handcuffs, the man yells, “Don’t slam her down like that,” and claims the woman has cancer.

“I was disheartened. That could’ve been my grandmother, my aunt, my sister,” bystander Raycine Ector said. “As you see, the lady in the video was just simply recording her husband’s interaction with the deputies and they came over and attacked her. I would say attack—he grabbed her by her neck and slung her down.”

According to ABC 7, the couple was accused of stealing a cake. Cancel the Contract, a local activist group is organizing a rally outside of the store on July 5, 2023, demanding the department fire the California officers seen on video. The group feels the video shows two officers who are simply out of control.

“That was the allegation—that they had shoplifted a cake,” group member Raquel Derfler said. “So let me be clear, nothing has been proven, but it was alleged…and that’s how they came in hot like that, as though they were brandishing firearms or attacking or assaulting members of the community when it was simply a cake.”

“We take the use of force very seriously and are determined to establish the facts of the incident,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. Both deputies have been re-assigned from the field pending further administrative review.


×