Pomona Police Sued Over Beating Caught on Tape

The city of Pomona and its chief of police are being sued over a beating captured on cell phone video.

The family of Andres Avila claims he was at a party on July 4, when two officers beat him and arrested him while responding to an unknown domestic disturbance.

“He’s being tasered as he’s on the ground in one clip and in the other clip, you will see that he’s already on the ground and an officer punches him hard in his face,” said Avila family attorney Luis Carillo.

Andres Avila filed a complaint against the officers for using excessive force. Months later, on October 16, Avila was shot and killed by Pomona police officers.

Avila was found asleep in a car with his girlfriend outside of a Pomona motel. Carillo and the Avila family believe the deadly shooting was retaliation for the complaint he filed over the July incident.

“I don’t think it’s a mere coincidence that a young man who filed personnel complaints winds up two months later getting shot dead by the same police department,” said Carillo.

The Avila family wants a federal investigation into the Pomona Police Department. They have also filed a claim for monetary damages. If that is denied, they plan to file a lawsuit with the Pomona Superior Court.

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