Investigators said that while Vega and Hernandez searched () skateboarders, a 23-year-old man (J.A.) started to shout at them, telling the deputies to leave the young men alone. Vega then challenged the bystander to a fight… before handcuffing him and throwing the young man into the back of the patrol SUV…
Vega continued to taunt and threaten the man as the trio drove away from the park. He threatened to drop him off in gang territory where J.A. could have been beaten.
Before taking off from the park, the deputies failed to buckle their captive’s seatbelt and eventually crashed their car into wall during a pursuit.
Their victim suffered a cut above his eye and an undisclosed head injury because of the collision. Vega told J.A. to run away from the crash site. Vegan then told his supervisor that no one else was in the car during the pursuit, until responding deputies detained J.A.
Vega lied again to his sergeant, claiming that he had detained the 23-year-old for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Hernandez and Vega tried to cover up their crime by having another deputy cite J.A. for being under the influence of methamphetamine, despite knowing it wasn’t true. Later, the two ex-deputies lied in incident reports, claiming J.A. also threatened people at the park.
Investigators said that while Vega and Hernandez searched () skateboarders, a 23-year-old man (J.A.) started to shout at them, telling the deputies to leave the young men alone. Vega then challenged the bystander to a fight… before handcuffing him and throwing the young man into the back of the patrol SUV… Vega continued to taunt and threaten the man as the trio drove away from the park. He threatened to drop him off in gang territory where J.A. could have been beaten.
Before taking off from the park, the deputies failed to buckle their captive’s seatbelt and eventually crashed their car into wall during a pursuit.
Their victim suffered a cut above his eye and an undisclosed head injury because of the collision. Vega told J.A. to run away from the crash site. Vegan then told his supervisor that no one else was in the car during the pursuit, until responding deputies detained J.A.
Vega lied again to his sergeant, claiming that he had detained the 23-year-old for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Hernandez and Vega tried to cover up their crime by having another deputy cite J.A. for being under the influence of methamphetamine, despite knowing it wasn’t true. Later, the two ex-deputies lied in incident reports, claiming J.A. also threatened people at the park.