Huntington Park Police Officer Viciously Assaulted Adriana Hernandez While Her Apartment Was Burning —> GoFundMe Set Up To Help Victim’s Family
HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA (July 15, 2024) – A 27-year-old woman identified as Adriana Hernandez was assaulted by a Huntington Park police officer as her family’s apartment was on fire.
The incident began around 10:00 p.m. on the Fourth of July. An apartment caught fire, and Adriana Hernandez ran towards the apartment and screamed for her father to leave.
However, she was stopped by a female police officer. The officer grabbed the front of her shirt, ripped her rosary, and struck the victim in the face three times.
Adriana Hernandez says that she was traumatized by the incident and has since been charged with resisting arrest. It remains unclear if the female officer involved in the assault will face any consequences for her actions.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing. You can help support the victim’s family through GoFundMe.
Liability For Huntington Park Police Assaults
There has been a sharp rise in police brutality directed at women in the United States. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “Women accounted for an alarming 31% of all people experiencing the threat or use of force by police, and over half of women (51%) who experienced threat or use of force in their most recent police interaction reported that such conduct by police was “excessive,” a result that is up a significant 8 percentage points from the last survey in 2018.” Excessive force may come in many different forms.
- Police officers may apply illegal chokeholds.
- Police officers may repeatedly use a taser on a suspect who is already subdued or compliant.
- Police officers may punch or strike suspects with batons.
- Police officers may shoot suspects who do not pose an immediate threat to anyone.
Police officers have a great deal of leeway in how they perform their job duties. But they must always use the least amount of force necessary for any given encounter. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. It is important that certain steps are taken after any assault involving a police officer.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Body-camera footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A civil rights attorney should be contacted.
It is common for police officers to act as though they are above the law. They may brutalize suspects and believe that nothing will happen to them. These beliefs are not entirely unfounded. In most situations, officers get away with excessive force against suspects. When police departments investigate themselves, they will come to the conclusion that they’ve done nothing wrong. This is why it is so important to seek legal advice after any assault involving an officer.
Investigating Huntington Park Police Assaults
We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our best wishes to Adriana Hernandez and her family. The violence perpetrated against her was horrific and excessive. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The officer involved in this brutal assault needs to be held accountable for her actions.
Have you or someone that you care about been assaulted by a Huntington Park police officer? You may have legal recourse. Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping victims of police abuse get the support and justice that they are entitled to. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.
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