Sheriff Villanueva interviewed by Office of Inspector General over allegations of deputy-gangs

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva testified Friday driving shut doorways about gang-like groups within his division, a discussion the sheriff has experimented with to dodge for many years. 

“It really is a dilemma of perception, but not fact,” the sheriff mentioned 7 months back. 

These remarks from Villanueva followed a report from the Rand Company that concluded there were gang-like cliques in just the sheriff’s Division.

Previous calendar year, CBSLA spoke to deputies who did not want their identities exposed who claimed customers discovered by themselves with tattoos. 

“They function as gangs. They commit crime. They assault men and women,” one deputy advised CBSLA. 

Villanueva was interviewed more than online video conference on Friday by the Inspector General’s Business office, following a unsuccessful problem to a subpoena. 

“It is an acknowledgement that there is a little something to appear at, that they require far more information, and they want to get that facts below oath,” Jessica Levinson, a political analyst and Loyola Law University Professor, stated. 

In a phone conversation, the Villanueva’s attorney said the sheriff answered 99% of the issues he was asked, and additional that he was willing to cooperate with any investigation pertaining to his tenure, but experienced troubles with staying compelled to testify beneath oath. 

Publicly, Villanueva has clashed with the Business of Inspector Typical and the Board of Supervisors. 

“They have under no circumstances excepted the results of the election of 2018,” the sheriff has said. 

On Wednesday, the sheriff took section in CBSLA’s Fulfill the Candidates Forum where two challengers attacked him on the subgroups in just the office with names like the Executioners and Banditos.

“We do not have to have deputy gangs, jail abuses and coverups as our headlines,” Lt. Eric Robust, a prospect for LA County Sheriff said, “but we do and that is mainly because of the management, mainly because of the unsuccessful leadership.” 

Yet another candidate for sheriff, Eli Vera, also took jabs at Villanueva on the concern. 

“When he bought into business, immediately after a couple of months, we started off butting heads, you know, likely back again to the Banditos concerns when he intentionally lied to the general public.” 

Friday’s job interview with the Inspector General’s Workplace was scheduled for 90 minutes, but Villanueva’s lawyer reported it went for just about two hrs. 

“Surely, if the workplace of Inspector Common finds there is felony wrongdoing, then, indeed, we can carry legal expenses. We are not there yet. We are nevertheless in the investigation section,” Levinson said. 

The IG said that non-confidential portions of Friday’s interview will sooner or later be introduced, but it truly is unclear as to when that will transpire.