By Trend News Line 2024-04-10 10:00:23.
Three years after a sheriff’s deputy shot an unarmed deaf and autistic man in his Cudahy home, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has agreed to pay the family a massive $25-million settlement. Isaias Cervantes was left permanently paralyzed due to the March 2021 shooting, which occurred just a few feet away from his family members, including his mother, sister, therapist, and twin brother, who has cerebral palsy.
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The family’s attorney, Austin Dove, expressed that the settlement could bring some hope and relief to the family as they try to move forward from the traumatic incident. The $25-million settlement is an unusually large sum, even for the lawsuit-heavy Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which cost taxpayers $150 million last year in settlements, judgements, and legal fees.
Despite the substantial settlement in the Cervantes case, the Sheriff’s Department concluded that the deputies involved, David Vega and Jonathan Miramontes, did not violate any policies with their use of force. A corrective action plan did not find any need for broader changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In a statement, the department reiterated that its internal review found no policy violations and emphasized the importance of utilizing the department’s Mental Evaluation Teams in similar situations. The deputies involved in the shooting claimed that Cervantes had attacked them and attempted to disarm one of them, leading to the use of force.
The lawyer representing Vega did not provide a comment, but Tom Yu, representing Miramontes, expressed disappointment in the county’s decision to settle, stating that the use of force was solely caused by Cervantes and not the deputies.
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The incident took place on March 31, 2021, when Cervantes’ sister called 911 to report that her mentally disabled and hard of hearing brother was being aggressive with their mother. When deputies Vega and Miramontes arrived at the scene, Cervantes’ mother informed them about her son’s mental health issues and requested help.
Video footage released by the Sheriff’s Department showed the deputies attempting to subdue Cervantes, leading to a struggle where one deputy ultimately shot Cervantes in the side, leaving him paralyzed. The shooting sparked calls for an independent investigation and renewed protests over police responses to mental health calls.
Following the shooting, Cervantes spent a month in the hospital undergoing surgeries due to the permanent spinal damage caused by the shooting. The family filed a lawsuit asking for unspecified damages, leading to the $25-million settlement this week.
Despite surviving the shooting and being later charged with assault and resisting arrest, the criminal case against Cervantes was dismissed in early 2022. Prosecutors declined to charge the deputies involved in the shooting, but Miramontes is facing legal issues in a separate case related to filing a false report about an on-duty assault incident.
The district attorney’s office appealed a decision to dismiss the case against Miramontes, and an appeals court overturned the decision, reinstating the case. The office stated that they will continue to hold law enforcement personnel accountable for their actions and look forward to a jury trial in the case against Miramontes.
The legal battle continues for all parties involved as they grapple with the aftermath of the tragic incident that left Isaias Cervantes permanently paralyzed..
County approves settlement for deaf autistic man shot by deputies in living room
Deaf autistic man shot by deputies in living room settlement approved by County.
