Judge Allows Lawsuit Over Brutal Sheriff Beating

0:00A Los Angeles County judge just greenlit a lawsuit against the Sheriff's Department for brutal beating of Joseph Perez back in 2020. The 28-year-old, who lives with schizophrenia, claims deputies went way too far during an arrest. On Monday, the judge shot down the county's push to toss the case, so its full steam ahead in court. Earlier this week, Perez's mom, Vanessa, had warned deputies her son needed mental health help just hours before the incident. She says they ignored it and piled on anyway. Deputies countered that Perez resisted and they got her too, based on their reports. Vanessa was outside the courthouse Monday, calling the ruling a step toward justice after years of fighting. She's overwhelmed but hopeful. The county's lawyers stay quiet, pointing to the active case. Meanwhile, a sheriff's watchdog group is battling in a separate fight for the full, unredacted use of force report from that night. The department still hasn't handed it over, despite a subpoena.

1:00This saga shows how tough accountability can be in these encounters, especially with mental health and the mix keep an eye on what unfolds next in the courts. You've been listening to California News today, AI-powered local news.