The cop who allegedly took and shared photographs of Kobe Bryant’s physique after his deadly helicopter crash additionally stands accused of kneeling on an inmate’s head for 3 minutes.
Video of the alleged inmate abuse is now on the heart of the authorized battle involving Bryant’s widow Vanessa’s lawsuit towards LA County.
Vanessa Bryant claims in her go well with that Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Douglas Johnson helped violate the privateness of her late husband and daughter Gianna when county employees shared photos of their stays.
The NBA legend and Gianna, 13, died Jan. 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash together with six different passengers and a pilot.
Johnson is now dealing with extra scrutiny over the discharge of video leaked to Knock LA, which reveals him kneeling on the top of inmate Enzo Escalate, who was handcuffed on the time.
Attorneys for the county try to stop the video from being launched as proof when Vanessa Bryant’s lawsuit heads to trial as scheduled in late July, claiming it’s irrelevant, in keeping with USA At the moment.
“The March 2021 County jail incident has nothing to do with this case, which facilities on allegations that the County violated Plaintiff’s rights by taking and sharing photographs of the January 26, 2020 helicopter crash,” the county stated in courtroom docs reviewed by the paper.
In line with the Los Angeles Occasions, the sheriff’s workplace tried to cowl up Johnson’s therapy of Escalante, “given its nature and its similarities to extensively publicized George Floyd use of pressure.
“The one motive Plaintiff would search to elicit testimony about Deputy Johnson’s altercation with the inmate and LASD’s response is to impugn Deputy Johnson’s and Sheriff [Alex] Villanueva’s character,” the county claimed in courtroom paperwork, referring to a second law-enforcement official tied to the case. “That is improper.”
Vanessa Bryant has stated she lives “in concern” that photos of her useless husband and daughter will “go viral,” in keeping with a courtroom papers.
“The gratuitous sharing continued within the following days and weeks and included such outrageous conduct as flaunting the photographs in a bar whereas pantomiming dismemberment, exhibiting off the photographs over cocktails at an awards gala, and casually texting the photographs to a bunch chat of video-game buddies whereas enjoying Name of Responsibility,” her attorneys have stated in earlier courtroom papers.
