A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has reached a settlement in his civil rights suit against his employer in which he alleged a colleague tried to recruit the plaintiff into an internal East Los Angeles station clique and then battered him when he refused to join.
Attorneys for Deputy Amayel Garfias filed court papers on Tuesday notifying Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven A. Ellis that a “conditional” accord has been reached that is subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors. No terms were divulged.
According to Garfias’ suit, in January 2022 a deputy colleague, angry that Garfias would not join a deputy gang, slammed a computer on top of one of the plaintiff’s arms that caused Garfias to need medical care. Six days later, the same fellow deputy hit one of the plaintiff’s hands and also his chest, according to the suit, which further alleges the county failed to protect Garfias.
Garfias believes the same deputy who allegedly assailed him continued trying to recruit other station members, the suit brought in January 2023 stated.