Los Angeles Times

Grand jury investigating LA County Sheriff's Department handling of deputy who knelt on inmate's head

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva during a news conference at the Hall of Justice on May 26, 2021, in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County prosecutors are convening a criminal grand jury to investigate whether the Sheriff’s Department mishandled an incident in which a sheriff’s deputy knelt on a handcuffed inmate’s head for three minutes, according to documents and interviews.

Several subpoenas have been served ordering sheriff’s officials to appear and testify starting later this week, according to two sources with knowledge of the subpoenas. Prosecutors are also seeking communications by a number of sheriff’s executives, one of the sources said.

It’s unclear how many subpoenas were issued or who received them. It’s also unclear whom prosecutors are targeting in their investigation. The district attorney’s office on Monday

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