LOS ANGELES - A wrongful death lawsuit has been brought against Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) and Sheriff Alex Villanueva by the parents of a mentally disabled man who they say was tasered to death by the LASD.
In March 2020, Juan and Blanca Briceno called 911 for mental heath help with their adult son, Eric, who lived in the home and suffered from schizophrenia. Eric, the February lawsuit said. He had also suffered with substance abuse and a mental health lapse that resulted in incarceration and probation, the suit says.
As a result, Eric was receiving medication and mental health treatment from Los Angeles County Social Services. Eric had a lapse in mental health in an incident that resulted in an altercation with his father, Juan, and 911 was called for assistance.
Deputies responded to the home instead of licensed mental health experts, the suit complains. The Bricenos allege that the deputies pushed past the parents into the home despite their vocalized wishes to bring their son outside, and startled Eric who was sleeping face down in his bed. Eric jumped up, startled but unarmed, resulting in several deputies jumping on Eric with batons and tasers, the suit says.
When paramedics arrived at the scene, Eric was found to be without a heartbeat or pulse. He was brought to the hospital but was pronounced dead due to cardiac arrest from being tased seven times, the suit says.
Eric's distraught parents were locked in a squad car and not allowed out to see their lifeless son taken away, the suit says.
The defendants also include 10 unidentified defendants who contributed to the decedent's injuries and death.
The Bricenos are charging the defendants for one count of excessive force, denial of medical care, false arrest and detention, warrantless entry into home, and excessive warrantless search of the home, vehicle and property, one count of violation of substantive due process, one count of supervisor liability causing constitutional violations, one count of violation of the US Constitution for custom, policy or practice, one count of violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, one count of violation of the Rehabilitation Act, one count of assault and battery, one count of false arrest and imprisonment and one count of negligence.
The plaintiffs are represented by the Law Offices of R. Samuel Paz, the Law Offices of John Burton and Sonia Mercado and Associates.