LAPD Releases Footage of Officer-Involved Incidents Leading to Deaths

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) unveiled security footage displaying officers in San Fernando Valley using force against Jose Carlos Hoyos-Munoz, 58, who later died in a jail cell. This is one of two incidents that spurred Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to request an independent inquiry into police actions involving individuals in mental distress.

A spokesperson for the police department stated Hoyos-Munoz had been uncooperative and spat on officers at the Van Nuys Regional Jail. The footage reveals multiple encounters where officers subdued Hoyos-Munoz after erratic behavior on July 15. Striking him while handcuffed, officers also placed a hood over his head to prevent further spitting.

The LAPD video shows Hoyos-Munoz, handcuffed and hooded, lying prone. After leaving him, officers returned to find him unconscious and not breathing. Tragically, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

“Decades of disinvestment in community-based mental and behavioral health services have left too many Angelenos without access to timely and appropriate care,” Mayor Bass said. She emphasized that LAPD officers lack training in managing mental health crises, underlining the challenges faced by law enforcement.

The deaths of Hoyos-Munoz and Alejandro Luis Garcia, killed in a police shooting, highlight the dangers when individuals in mental health crises do not receive necessary care. Mayor Bass announced an independent review of such cases, examining policies, training, tactics, and accountability systems.

Two days prior to his death, Hoyos-Munoz was involved in an altercation at his family’s home, allegedly stabbing two relatives. When refusing to exit the house, SWAT officers intervened, leading to his arrest. Initially calm upon entering the Valley jail, his behavior changed, prompting officers to take action due to perceived safety threats.

According to Capt. Michael Bland, detention officers used force including knee strikes during attempts to manage Hoyos-Munoz’s actions. Placed in a prone position, he was monitored and appeared to be breathing before being found unresponsive.

The cause of death remains pending as the Medical Examiner defers its decision. Both the LAPD’s internal team and the state’s In-Custody Death Review Division are conducting investigations.

In a separate incident, footage also released shows 33-year-old Alejandro Garcia’s fatal encounter with police. Officers responded to reports of Garcia wielding a baseball bat and smashing car windows. The footage, contrary to earlier police statements, shows Garcia walking with the bat when shot by officers. The LAPD has not divulged the identities of the officers involved in this shooting.