The parents and children of a mentally ill jail inmate who was beaten to death by a fellow prisoner at Men's Central Jail last year sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and various deputies Monday, alleging in federal court that the defendants "deliberately failed to take even modest actions to prevent predatory behavior among inmates."
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In February 2023, Andrew Balderrama, 37, of Los Angeles, was taken into custody by the LASD for a "non-violent misdemeanor offense" and was housed in MCJ, according to the lawsuit filed in L.A. federal court.
On or about May 14, 2023, Balderrama was "brutally choked and beaten by his cell mate, Vincent Tellez," while housed at MCJ, according to the complaint, which contends that the attack caused Balderrama to suffer multiple injuries, including cardiac arrest and brain damage, among other trauma.
Following the attack, Balderrama was hospitalized for several days at the Los Angeles County Hospital but died from his injuries on May 17, 2023, the suit states.
In a statement to City News Service, LASD said all in-custody deaths are rigorously investigated by the department
"We house and care for approximately 12,000 inmates in our seven jail facilities on any given day," according to LASD. "Any loss of life is tragic, especially for those who are in our custody. The Sheriff's Department and Correctional Health partners thoroughly investigate each in-custody death for policy and procedure issues and care assessment. We remain steadfast in our commitment to improving these conditions and addressing the urgent need to replace Men's Central Jail."
According to the plaintiffs, LASD deputies and/or custody staff were aware of Balderrama's mental health condition, which could lead to violence with another inmate. Despite knowing this, LASD personnel "failed to take adequate precautions to protect Balderrama" and were aware of the propensity for the danger posed by Balderrama's cellmate, Tellez, and failed to properly classify him as a danger to others, the suit alleges.
Attorneys representing Balderrama's estate contend that LASD deputies and jail mental health staff knew or should have known that Tellez would attack and/or kill other inmates if he was not consistently monitored. Nevertheless, according to the suit, LASD deputies and/or custody staff allegedly intentionally and improperly housed Balderrama with Tellez, "thereby placing him at substantial risk of death or serious harm."
This alleged indifference ultimately led to Balderrama "being brutally killed by his cell mate," the 53-page lawsuit alleges.
The complaint -- which names LASD, former Sheriff Robert Luna, Tellez, and various jail staff -- also alleges that despite a long history of inmate-on-inmate violence, LASD personnel "deliberately failed to take even modest actions to prevent predatory behavior among inmates."
As a result, by the time Balderrama was housed at MCJ, "violent inmates knew they could continue to prey on the most vulnerable without interference from custodial staff or medical/mental health staff," according to the suit for state and federal civil rights violations, negligence and wrongful death.
Balderrama's death is one of four confirmed inmate-on-inmate deaths within the LA County jails during the 2023 calendar year and the 16th death that year, according to the suit, which seeks unspecified damages and attorney's fees.
Plaintiffs also allege LASD fails to adequately train, monitor and supervise jail staff.
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