LOS ANGELES — The ongoing battle between Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the civilian board that oversees his department is heading toward an inflection point over deputy gang allegations.
The sheriff and other top brass have been subpoenaed to testify under oath July 1 about the existence of deputy gangs, and the board is urging the courts to compel them to show up or risk fines or jail time.
The sheriff himself was absent from an LASD press conference Wednesday, where the department said it would be up to individual deputies whether to cooperate with the Civilian Oversight Commission’s investigative hearings on deputy gangs. Assistant Sheriff Holly Francisco told reporters she could not speak for the sheriff.
The press conference also focused additional concerns over the departments embattled East LA station, where allegations of deputy “cliques” (as the department calls them) date back to 1971. The concerns persist today after whistleblowers allege a tattooed deputy gang called the “Banditos” runs the station.
The allegations have cast a shadow over controversial deputy involved shootings, including the killing of David Ordaz, Jr., a suicidal man with a knife, on March 14, 2021. Ordaz’s sister, Hilda Pedrosa, called the sheriff’s station asking for help.
Even Villanueva has expressed “grave concerns” over what happened next. Deputies pointed their guns at Ordaz and ordered him out of the car. When he stumbled toward them, they opened fire and shot him dead.
Pedrosa does not know if the deputies are connected to the Banditos scandal, but she was shocked to learn during the press conference that deputies had been transferred out of East LA after controversial use of force incidents and negative headlines.
Chief April Tardy declined to confirm which use of force incidents resulted in disciple or transfers.