Sacramento, California – Cristain Rodriguez has launched a complaint against Sacramento County alleging deputies mistreated him badly during his booking at the Main Jail last year. According to reports, Rodriguez was aggressively handled by deputies on September 29, which resulted in a broken arm.
The lawsuit filed last week in federal court claims Rodriguez was transferred to the jail for processing after being detained for a claimed probation violation. The complaint describes a dramatic series of events whereby Rodriguez was strip-searched, slammed forcefully against a wall, had his limbs forcefully manipulated while he provided no resistance. It also says deputies hauled him to another room, threw him on the ground, and locked him with handcuffs behind his back.
The breaking point was when Deputy Jarrod Hopeck allegedly Rodriguez’s left arm so forcefully that it fractured. According to the lawsuit, Hopeck realized of the harm as it happened thanks to Rodriguez’s rapid reaction and cries of pain.
Deputy Hopeck—along with at least two other officers listed in the lawsuit—are not working for the county as of December 7. Their departure from county employment has unclear circumstances. Records reveal that since 2016, Hopeck has been involved in several use-of- force events including officer-related shootings.
Rodriguez says he was refused medical assistance following the event despite several pleas. Only after his release did he get a diagnosis verifying a fractured elbow among other ailments, which have not completely recovered.
This case raises important issues regarding the execution of Senate Bill 1421, adopted in 2019, which requires the publication of law enforcement data on uses of force resulting in serious injuries. Legal experts contend that Rodriguez’s injuries should set these transparency rules, but the police have not made the required paperwork or video evidence available.
The lawsuit accuses the participating deputies with unlawful seizure, forceful behavior, supervisory responsibility, violations of California’s Bane Act, carelessness, assault, and battery. As the matter develops, it adds to the ongoing examination of the Sacramento County jails, which have recorded four inmate deaths since May this year alone.
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Spokesperson Sgt. Amar Gandhi of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has not commented on the ongoing legal actions or the deputies’ job status. As the case reveals issues related to force and openness inside the county law enforcement policies, the community and supporters anticipate more developments.