Civil Rights Violations
Man on Bicycle Killed in Collision With Deputy’s Vehicle in Inglewood
A man on a bike who was being sought by deputies was killed early Monday in a collision involving a deputy’s patrol vehicle in Inglewood, according to authorities.
LA County Sheriff’s Deputies say they believed Alfonso Cerda Sr. was carrying a gun when they tried to stop the bicyclist in Inglewood early Monday. Cerda was killed in a collision involving a deputy’s patrol vehicle. No gun was found and his family members say the 45-year-old father of three never carried a weapon.
Family members identified the victim as a 45-year-old Alfonso Cerda, a father of three who lived in the neighborhood.
Deputies were attempting to contact the individual because they thought he had a gun, authorities said. No weapon was found.
“My dad never carried a weapon,” said Alfonso Cerda Jr. “If he was on his bike he had a flashlight, his wallet, and that’s it — and his happiness.”
Two sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop the man, who they believed was armed, according to the sheriff’s department.
“At that time, the man on the bicycle took off,” said Lt. James Madia, of the Inglewood Police Department. “He tried to escape from the deputies. They gave chase in the police car.”
The collision occurred at about 1:30 a.m. in the 3500 block of West 107th Street. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital, authorities said.
Cerda rode the bike around the neighborhood, fixing electric items and selling old clothes, family members said.
“My dad didn’t deserve to die,” said Cerda Jr. “How do you hit someone with a 5,000-pound vehicle? How does that happen?”
Police Brutality Attorney
Have you been the victim of a police brutality? Have you lost a loved one from a police brutality you believe was unjustified? If so, you need the help of the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler. Contact us today for a free consultation regarding the specifics of your case. We have extensive practice in this area, and have a track record of recovering millions for victims of unjustified police civil rights violations and their families. Unless a person shoots at officers or hurts others in the presence of the police, it is usually unnecessary for police to use unnecessary force. Unlawful civil rights violations by police are considered excessive force, and are a violation of rights.
Tensions are High
Whenever police are involved in a situation, tensions are automatically raised. In turn, individuals may panic and behave irrationally. The police are sworn to protect citizens, and trained in ways to calm intense circumstances and the people involved. If inadequately trained, there is the problem of excessive force being used by the police, often by the way of shootings or other means of excessive force, when not necessary. The police firearm should be used in only extreme situations, and every other method to calm the conflict should be used in exhaustion before firing, even when using non-lethal methods such as police vehicles, bean bag guns or tasers. Although non-lethal, these methods of control can still cause significant injury to the victim, and should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Recent victims of police shootings from bean bag shot guns have needed emergency surgery, and even died as a result of the wound. In many cases, this is due to a lack of training for the police officer.
The Next Step
If you have lost a loved one due to a police shooting or police excessive force you believe to be unjustified, or are yourself a victim of an unjustified police shooting, it is important for you to take action immediately. Although an investigation of all police shootings is done by the police department, that can hardly be considered an objective investigation, when it is obvious they will lean toward the shooting being justified if there is any question on how evidence can be construed. Our attorneys will be able to uncover any evidence necessary to find out what actually occurred to result in the shooting or excessive force. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler today to find out how we can help you.
