An officer with the Veterans Affairs Police Department has been indicted on civil rights and assault charges that allege he used a department-issued baton to illegally strike a man approximately 45 times in 41 seconds at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.
Juan Anthony Carrillo, 45, was named in a two-count indictment returned Sept. 28 by a federal grand jury. He will receive a summons directing him to appear in the coming weeks for an arraignment in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles, according to a Department of Justice release.
Around 4 a.m. on Jan. 16, 2022, the 34-year-old victim identified in the indictment as “R.V.” was detained by another VAPD officer on the grounds of the medical center. Carrillo arrived to assist the other officer and proceeded to strike R.V. with a VAPD-issued baton up to 45 times in approximately 41 seconds, according to the indictment that notes most, if not all, of the baton strikes, were delivered while the other officer was on top of the victim.
The indictment notes that Carrillo was about 60 pounds heavier than R.V and the second officer was about 8 inches taller and about 85 pounds heavier than the victim.
As a result of the alleged beating, the victim sustained injuries that included bleeding and lacerations on both legs.
“Our Constitution protects all of us from excessive force inflicted by law enforcement officers, and when that standard is violated the Justice Department will take action to vindicate the rights enjoyed by all Americans,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We deeply appreciate the difficult jobs faced every day by law enforcement officers, the vast majority of whom act with professionalism and integrity. But when an officer acts in a manner that violates the civil rights of another person, we will respond to uphold the rule of law and maintain public trust in our system of justice.”
In addition to the use of excessive force, the indictment alleges that Carrillo, on the day after the incident, prepared a misleading VAPD incident report to justify his use of force.
“Carrillo’s report misleadingly and falsely claimed that victim R.V. was violently kicking his legs and refusing to show his hands, while also omitting the number of strikes defendant Carrillo used,” the indictment reads.
Carrillo is charged with deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm. Both offenses as alleged carry statutory maximum penalties of 10 years in federal prison.
