Multiple L.A. Sheriff’s Deputies Relieved of Duty for Beating Trans Teacher
At least eight Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies have been relieved of duty amid a federal investigation into the beating of a transgender man last year in a 7-Eleven parking lot, according to several law enforcement sources. Last week, nearly two years after the incident, Deputy Joseph Benza III agreed to plead guilty to one felony civil rights violation in federal court. In his plea agreement, Benza admitted that he lied to the FBI about the incident and alleged that numerous other deputies and sergeants helped obstruct the investigation and cover up the misconduct.
The Incident
The incident that sparked the federal case happened on February 10, 2023. That morning, 23-year-old Emmett Brock was leaving his high school teaching job when he spotted a deputy who he said appeared to be in a heated conversation with a woman on the side of the road. As he drove by, Brock threw up his middle finger, thinking the deputy would not see it. A few seconds later, he spotted a patrol cruiser following close behind him without its lights or sirens on, mirroring his every turn.
Initially, Benza’s lawyer said the person Brock passed on the side of the road was not his client but another officer, probably from another agency. He said Benza never saw Brock flip him off — and Benza’s own incident report made no mention of it. In last week’s court filings, prosecutors said Benza abandoned his response to a domestic disturbance call when he saw Brock flip him off. At one point, prosecutors said, Benza called another deputy, and said he planned to stop someone who’d flipped him off and that he intended to use force.
The Confrontation
After driving nearly two miles with the deputy following behind him, Brock stopped at a 7-Eleven and stepped out of his car. Video of the incident shows that the deputy approached him and said, “I just stopped you,” offering no explanation as to why. “No, you didn’t,” Brock replied, according to an audio recording from the deputy’s body camera. Federal prosecutors said Benza then “violently body slammed” Brock into the ground. For the next three minutes, Brock struggled and screamed as the deputy held him down and punched him in the head.
“You’re going to f—ing kill me,” he shouted. “Help! Help! Help! I’m not resisting!” Afterward, Brock was taken to the Norwalk sheriff’s station lockup, where he alleged staff asked to see his genitals before deciding which holding cell to send him to. He was initially booked on three felonies and one misdemeanor, and later released on $100,000 bail.
