In an undisputed act of abuse of power, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officer brutally beat a 23-year-old transgender man outside a 7-Eleven in Whittier, under the guise of resisting arrest.
While the incident occurred on February 10 of this year, footage of the incident was released just last week.
In the video it can be seen that Emmet Brock is violently arrested by officer Joseph Benza, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, without explaining for sure why he had stopped him.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Brock said he had a bad day, as he had quit his job as a high school teacher after being harassed by a co-worker for being transgender. He explained that, a few blocks from the school, he saw an officer who appeared to be having a heated conversation with a woman on the side of the road, and as he walked by, he raised his middle finger. He didn't even think the agent would see him, he said.
After that, he saw a patrolman following closely behind him, which made Brock uncomfortable. He continued his journey, but the patrol continued behind without calling him to a halt.
Joseph Benza followed him into a 7-Eleven parking lot on Mills Avenue in Whittier. There, the officer threw Brock to the pavement and hit him repeatedly over the head, accusing him of resisting arrest even as the officer yelled for help, gasped for breath and made no move on the officer.
According to a police report, Brock was pulled over for having an air freshener dangling from his rearview mirror that allegedly obstructed his view of the road.
In addition, the Sheriff's Department said two witnesses saw Brock get out of his car and struggle with the officer, with one of them claiming he punched the officer, which is not shown in the camera footage and the police officer. officer did not claim
After Brock was handcuffed, the officer put him in the back seat of his squad car.
In an 11-page report, Benza justified his actions, noting "My blows had the desired effect."
Medical records state that Benza fractured his right hand in a "punching injury."
Meanwhile, Brock was treated for scratches, bruises and a concussion, derived from the blows received.
In addition to the beating, Brock was assaulted at the police station, after being asked to make a statement, during which he explained that he is transgender.
"So you're a girl?" he said an agent asked, Brock said no. The man then asked her if she had a penis, and she said yes. He explained what surgeries existed and said that he had been on hormones for years. After being asked for evidence, Brock spent a few awkward minutes in a bathroom showing her his genitals and explaining the effects of testosterone, and was placed in a women's holding cell, facing three felonies: mutilation, resisting arrest and obstruction, plus a misdemeanor failure to obey a police officer.
The case is still open and moving forward.
With information from Los Angeles Times.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, ayou administeredred by the CaliFornia State Library.
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