A “contempt of cop” incident involving a 23-year-old trans man and the Los Angeles County sheriff who beat him in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven has grown to include at least eight deputies fired for participating in a cover-up of their colleague’s actions.
The Los Angeles Times reports that multiple LA County sheriff’s deputies have been relieved of duty amid a federal investigation into the beating of teacher Emmet Brock after he flipped off a sheriff’s deputy and was beaten in the aftermath.
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Deputy Joseph Benza III agreed two weeks ago to plead guilty in federal court to one felony count of deprivation of rights under the color of law in relation to the incident, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.
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In February 2023, Brock drove by Benza, who was arguing with a woman while engaged in a traffic stop, and flipped off the deputy. Brock said he didn’t think the officer would even see the gesture.
Soon after, Benza was following Brock in a two-mile pursuit that ended with Brock bloodied and beaten in the convenience store parking lot. Video captured Benza beating Brock for three minutes as the young man pleaded for his life.
In his plea agreement, Benza admitted he lied to the FBI about the incident and alleged that other deputies, including supervisors, helped him obstruct the investigation and cover up his misconduct.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Benza had been fired on December 18. The next day, they admitted “multiple” other deputies had also been relieved of duty.
Sources said the number was eight, including several sergeants involved in the coverup.
An LA County Sheriff’s spokesperson said that Benza’s conduct “undermine[s] the integrity of our Department, the trust of our community, and the safety of those we are sworn to protect.”
“It is deeply troubling that a member of our Department, who has since been relieved of duty, violated the trust placed in them to uphold the law by abusing their authority,” Sheriff Robert G. Luna said.
Benza is due back in court in January to formally enter his plea. His attorney, Tom Yu, said he’ll ask the court for probation.
A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office characterized Benza’s actions as “a federal civil rights violation for using excessive force during an assault of a transgender man in retaliation for the victim exercising his First Amendment rights.”
In court filings, prosecutors said Benza abandoned a response to a domestic disturbance call when he saw Brock flip him off. They said Benza called another deputy to alert them he planned to pull the man over and that he intended to use force.
When Brock eventually drove into the 7-Eleven and stepped out of his car, video reveals Benza approached him and said, “I just stopped you,” offering no explanation.
Brock and his lawyer, Thomas E. Beck, have a pending federal case against Los Angeles County, Benza, and his colleagues, alleging false imprisonment, civil rights violations, and assault and battery. Brock says processing after his arrest violated his civil rights and included an examination of his genitals that amounted to harassment.
Brock was let go from his teaching job three days after the arrest. He currently works at a homeless shelter and is on track to graduate with a master’s degree from California State University – Fullerton in the spring, he told NBC News.
“This outcome brings me a little bit of peace of mind, as much as it can,” he said.
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