{"id":96519,"date":"2022-04-27T09:02:53","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T03:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centralrecorder.com\/sheriff-denies-targeting-l-a-times-reporter-amid-investigation\/"},"modified":"2022-04-27T09:02:53","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T03:32:53","slug":"sheriff-denies-targeting-l-a-times-reporter-amid-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centralrecorder.com\/sheriff-denies-targeting-l-a-times-reporter-amid-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheriff Denies Targeting L.A. Times Reporter Amid Investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A defiant Sheriff Alex Villanueva today used a news conference to blast a variety of his opponents both political and perceived, including election challenger Eli Vera, county Inspector General Max Huntsman and Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian, who broke am explosive story of an altercation involving the handcuffed inmate. Villanueva alleged today that the piece was potentially based on information stolen from the department. He listed six potential crimes involved, including burglary, theft and conspiracy.<\/p>\n

He augmented the presentation with a blown-up photo of the journalist, much as law enforcement officials are wont to do with suspects when explaining a case.<\/p>\n

Asked by media today if Tchekmedyian was under investigation Villanueva said vaguely, \u201cThe matter is under investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another reporter pressed, \u201cYou placed her picture up there\u2026and talked about it in terms of a criminal investigation. Is this Los Angeles Times reporter under investigation by the department?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sheriff replied, \u201cThe act is under investigation. All parties to the act are subject to investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

He called the article \u201cclick bait\u201d and part of a \u201chit parade by the L.A. Times.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In a stunning moment, Los Angeles Co Sheriff Alex Villanueva revealed LASD is investigating his political opponent @Vera4Sheriff<\/a>, the Inspector General and LA Times reporter @AleneTchek<\/a>, after leaked video exposed a deputy kneeling on a handcuffed inmate’s head. @SpecNews1SoCal<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/D7sTgBeEvc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kate Cagle (@KateCagle) April 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Los Angeles Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida issued a statement calling the sheriff\u2019s comments \u201coutrageous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff Alex Villanueva\u2019s attack on Alene Tchekmedyian\u2019s First Amendment rights for doing newsworthy reporting on a video that showed a deputy kneeling on a handcuffed inmate\u2019s head is outrageous,\u201d said Merida. \u201cHis attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law. We will vigorously defend Tchekmedyian\u2019s and the Los Angeles Times\u2019 rights in any proceeding or investigation brought by authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The paper followed with a letter<\/a> sent to Villanueva late today from its general counsel, Jeff Glasser. In it, Glasser lays out the legal precedents prohibiting such an investigation of a journalist and calling the move \u201ca thinly veiled attempt to intimidate Ms. Tchekmedyian for reporting unflattering (but entirely accurate) information about the conduct of individuals in your department and allegations of a cover-up<\/a> by you and other officials.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The @latimes<\/a> has lawyers toohttps:\/\/t.co\/RaCJ6iobjL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Paul Thornton (@PaulMThornton) April 27, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Late today, the sheriff backed off the bluster a bit, posting a denial to social media that reads in part:<\/p>\n

Resulting from the incredible frenzy of misinformation being circulated, I must clarify at no time today did I state an LA Times reporter was a suspect in a criminal investigation. We have no interest in pursuing, nor are we pursuing, criminal charges against any reporters.<\/p>\n

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Resulting from the incredible frenzy of misinformation being circulated, I must clarify at no time today did I state an LA Times reporter was a suspect in a criminal investigation. We have no interest in pursuing, nor are we pursuing, criminal charges against any reporters. pic.twitter.com\/4N7Y8TToxt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) April 27, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Earlier in the day, however, Villanueva also went as far to allege collusion among the various players, all designed to derail his re-election bid.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you take this entire thing into context you realize that there\u2019s a lot of people working in concert and coordination,\u201d he said. \u201cThat includes the L.A. Times. That includes people that obviously want to defeat me electorally. That includes the [Board of Supervisors]-appointed inspector general and the [Civilian] Oversight Commission. A lot of people working overtime and they\u2019re doing it as best they can, so there\u2019ll be more of this nonsense thrown at me until June 7, but it is what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis issued a statement saying she is calling on the state attorney general to investigate Villanueva for a \u201cpattern of unconscionable and dangerous actions like the one today,\u201d referring to the sheriff\u2019s penchant for calling news conferences with county resources to lash out at political foes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe latest attack on LA Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian is another dangerous example of Sheriff Villanueva attacking the media and the First Amendment,\u201d Solis said. \u201cThis is in keeping with his past harassment of other women, including KPCC reporter Josie Huang as well as myself and other county officials.<\/p>\n

\u201cDisplaying Alene\u2019s photo at today\u2019s press conference and making her appear as if she committed a crime is not just an attack on Alene but the entire journalistic community. What\u2019s criminal is the sheriff\u2019s cover-up of deputies using excessive force against an incarcerated person, including kneeling on his neck for three minutes. What\u2019s not criminal, however, is Alene and other journalists reporting on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The L.A. Press Club issued its own statement saying it \u201cstands in solidarity with Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian and all journalists who are threatened or harassed by law enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was signed by the press club and 20 other media-affiliated organizations.<\/p>\n

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We stand with fellow press organizations and advocates supporting @AleneTchek<\/a> of @LATimes<\/a> and all journalists threatened\/harassed by law enforcement, including @cerisecastle<\/a> @josie_huang<\/a> @mayalau<\/a> & others. Full statement: pic.twitter.com\/DBM2M0ocYL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LA Press Club (@LAPressClub) April 27, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Earlier today, Villanueva denied all allegations contained in a damage claim filed against the county this week by one of his commanders, who asserts the sheriff was made aware of the incident involving the handcuffed inmate days after it occurred and lied when he claimed not to have seen video of the altercation until months later.<\/p>\n

The sheriff blasted the claim Tuesday, calling it part of what he alleges is an orchestrated attack involving an election rival, the county\u2019s inspector general and even a Los Angeles Times reporter \u2014 saying he is conducting a criminal probe to determine who leaked the reporter surveillance video of the altercation.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo the foundation of this entire lawsuit [claim] is false,\u201d the sheriff said. \u201cEverything in this lawsuit is false.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the damages claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit, Cmdr. Allen Castellano contends that Villanueva and at least three other agency executives saw the surveillance video within days of the March 10, 2021, incident, and the sheriff said he would \u201chandle the matter,\u201d noting that the department did \u201cnot need bad media at this time.\u201d Castellano said concerns were raised about the video of the altercation due to its similarity to the death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, sparking national protests.<\/p>\n

The altercation, which was first reported by the Los Angeles Times, occurred at the San Fernando Courthouse, where a 24-year-old inmate named Enzo Escalante allegedly punched sheriff\u2019s Deputy Douglas Johnson in the face. Johnson and other deputies wrestled Escalante to the ground, with Johnson putting his knee on the inmate\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

Security video of the altercation shows Johnson keeping his knee on Escalante\u2019s head for three minutes after he was handcuffed and did not appear to be resisting.<\/p>\n

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Los Angeles County sheriff\u2019s officials attempted to cover up an incident in which a deputy knelt on the head of a handcuffed inmate for three minutes because they feared the \u201cnegative light\u201d it could shed on the department, according to internal records https:\/\/t.co\/sPAeJw7CoP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XoGNXmvll9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

After the incident, Castellano wrote an internal report suggesting that officials within the department tried to suppress details and video of the altercation, \u201cgiven its nature and its similarities to widely publicized
George Floyd use of force.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his new legal claim, Castellano claims that Villanueva orchestrated an effort to cover up the video, and later took retaliatory action against people in the department who raised questions about that effort or challenged
what the commander called an attempt by the sheriff to change the timeline of when he first viewed the video.<\/p>\n

Villanueva last month denied that he was involved in any type of coverup, insisting that he did not see the video until November, when he immediately ordered that the deputy involved be relieved of duty and that a criminal investigation be initiated.<\/p>\n

The sheriff conceded that an internal criminal investigation should have been started immediately after the incident, concurrent with an administrative probe, but it didn\u2019t happen \u2014 something he blamed on errors in judgment by others in the department.<\/p>\n

Villanueva reiterated that timeline Tuesday, again denying any type of cover-up or retaliation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to cover-ups or whistleblowers, I don\u2019t see what was covered up or what whistle was blown, because that\u2019s a mystery,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

County Undersheriff Tim Murakami \u2014 who is also alleged in the claim to have seen the video days after the incident in March 2021 \u2014 also denied the allegation.<\/p>\n

Villanueva called Castellano a \u201cdisgruntled employee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Castellano contends in his damages claim that despite the sheriff\u2019s assertion that the deputy involved was relieved of duty in November, that actually didn\u2019t happen until Dec. 7. Castellano also claims he was subjected to an internal investigation after raising concerns about the handling of the matter and was reprimanded for lapses in how the case was handled, despite his insistence that he brought the case to the sheriff\u2019s attention within days.<\/p>\n

Vera, a 33-year sheriff\u2019s department veteran, issued a statement Monday backing Castellano\u2019s version of events.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the individual who reported this truth to the inspector general, I\u2019m infuriated to see Villanueva double-down on his lies to cover up his criminal activity,\u201d Vera said.<\/p>\n

City News Service contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n