The Los Angeles Police Department on Friday released videos documenting two recent in-custody deaths, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to call for an independent review of police killings involving individuals in mental distress.
LAPD releases footage of two deaths in custody
The videos depict two separate incidents. In the first, officers at the Van Nuys Regional Jail used force on Jose Carlos Hoyos-Munoz, 58, after he was uncooperative and spat on officers in his cell in the early hours of July 15. The footage shows multiple officers converging on Hoyos-Munoz, striking him while he was handcuffed and pinned down. Officers placed a hood over his head after the altercation, and he was left in that position before being found unconscious and not breathing. Hoyos-Munoz was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been arrested two days prior for allegedly stabbing his mother and another relative, resulting in minor injuries, according to authorities.
In the second incident, officers responded to reports of Alejandro Luis Garcia, 33, armed with a metal bat on July 29 near the Normandie Avenue underpass of the 10 freeway. Video shows Garcia advancing toward officers despite repeated commands to drop the weapon. Officers fired shots, striking Garcia, who then fell to the ground and dropped the bat. CPR was administered before he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities stated Garcia had shattered multiple vehicles and attempted to strike passersby prior to the confrontation.
Mayor Bass calls for independent review
Following the release of the videos, Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement describing the footage as “incredibly difficult to watch.” She emphasized that decades of underinvestment in community-based mental and behavioral health services have increased the likelihood of encounters between law enforcement and individuals in crisis. “LAPD officers do not enter the force to become first responders to mental health crises,” Bass said, underscoring the need for systemic changes.
LAPD provides official account of incidents
An LAPD spokesperson stated that Hoyos-Munoz’s behavior in his cell—including spitting on officers and resisting commands—prompted the use of force. The spokesperson noted that officers followed protocol by placing a hood over his head to mitigate the risk of further exposure to bodily fluids. In Garcia’s case, the LAPD reported that officers followed standard procedures, issuing repeated verbal warnings before resorting to lethal force when Garcia failed to comply and advanced with the bat.
Incidents prompt scrutiny of police response protocols
The release of the videos has intensified public scrutiny of LAPD procedures, particularly regarding the use of force against individuals in custody or experiencing mental health crises. The incidents occurred amid broader discussions about police accountability and the role of law enforcement in responding to behavioral health emergencies. The LAPD has not yet detailed any changes to its policies in response to the incidents but stated that all use-of-force incidents are subject to internal and external review.