L.A. Taco journalist sues LAPD alleging mistreatment

A journalist for the web site L.A. Taco filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in opposition to the Los Angeles Police Division on Thursday, alleging officers have repeatedly interfered along with his constitutional proper to doc sweeps of homeless encampments all through town.

Lexis-Olivier Ray mentioned officers and metropolis sanitation staff have wrongfully threatened him with arrest — and in a single occasion truly positioned him in handcuffs — as he tried to report on encampment sweeps in Skid Row and West L.A. between August and November of final 12 months, in line with the criticism.

“I attempted to resolve the problem outdoors of a courtroom. However as an alternative of attempting to return to an understanding, LAPD officers responded by arresting me and holding me behind a patrol automotive in handcuffs for almost an hour, earlier than releasing me with none fees,” Ray mentioned in a press release. “At a time when the First Modification is being threatened by individuals in energy, and journalists are underneath assault, it’s extra vital than ever to reaffirm our rights to movie police and authorities officers in public areas with out threats of arrest.”

In among the incidents, Ray had crossed yellow crime scene tape. However his lawyer, Peter Bibring, argued the tape was put up by sanitation staff slightly than police and not one of the incidents have been energetic crime scenes.

Metropolis staff claimed Ray was interfering with their operations and in a “work zone,” however the swimsuit contends different members of the general public have been in a position to stroll by means of the realm and he created no disruption.

“LAPD constantly fails to get the fundamental level that the First Modification forbids them from closing areas to the press except its required for a selected and overriding concern,” Bibring mentioned.

Neither the LAPD or town lawyer’s workplace responded to a request for remark. The lawsuit comes at a time when LAPD’s therapy of the press has come underneath growing scrutiny in courtrooms.

Final week, a choose barred police and federal legislation enforcement from utilizing less-lethal weapons on journalists after a spate of incidents wherein reporters have been damage throughout summer time protests in opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration raids. The town additionally just lately settled two lawsuits filed by journalists who claimed they have been injured or wrongfully arrested throughout protests.

Ray’s lawsuit claims metropolis staff singled him out.

Throughout one September incident, an officer approached Ray and informed him “I do know precisely who you’re” earlier than demanding he go away the realm, in line with the criticism. In one other, he was observing a clear up behind the yellow tape when a sanitation employee purposefully obstructed his view and ordered him to maneuver again whereas on a public sidewalk, the swimsuit alleges.

Final October, an LAPD officer handcuffed Ray on suspicion of interfering with a clean-up. Video from the scene that the reporter posted to X reveals the clean-up work persevering with uninterrupted whilst an officer tells Ray they will “put him in cuffs.” Ray was by no means formally arrested or charged with against the law.

This isn’t the primary time the division has confronted accusations of retaliation in opposition to Ray. In 2020, he was arrested for failure to disperse whereas overlaying chaotic celebrations that adopted the Dodgers World Collection victory. A 2021 Occasions investigation confirmed that Ray was the one individual, among the many a whole bunch within the streets that night time, that the LAPD later sought to have charged with against the law.

Finally, Ray was not charged in that incident.