Key facts
- Body-cam footage released by the LAPD shows officers beating and restraining Jose Carlos Hoyoz-Munoz, 58, before he was found dead in a jail cell.
- Hoyoz-Munoz was found unconscious and not breathing in his cell on July 15, days after his arrest for allegedly assaulting family members.
- The footage depicts multiple instances of officers using force, including pinning him to the ground, using a harnessed chair, and piling on top of him in his cell.
- Officers cited Hoyoz-Munoz's combative behavior, spitting, and resistance as reasons for the use of force.
- Mayor Karen Bass described the videos as difficult to watch and called for an independent evaluation of officer-involved deaths in mental health crises.
Newly released body-camera footage from the Los Angeles Police Department shows officers beating and restraining Jose Carlos Hoyoz-Munoz, 58, in the minutes before he was found dead in a jail cell on July 15. The department stated three use-of-force incidents occurred, a revision from its initial report of two.
The video depicts officers entering Hoyoz-Munoz's cell after he was seen flapping a piece of cloth against the window. Police described the restraint as a response to his combative behavior while they attempted to fingerprint him. Officers pinned him to the ground, placed him in a harnessed chair, and used their body weight to restrain him again, citing resistance and spitting. A spit hood was placed over his face.
Later, officers entered his cell again and moved him to the cell bed, piling on top of him while he was face down. The LAPD reported that wellness checks were conducted for 20 minutes afterward, during which Hoyoz-Munoz appeared to exhibit signs of life. He was subsequently found unconscious and not breathing.
Hoyoz-Munoz had been arrested on July 13 following a call about a suspected assault with a deadly weapon, during which he allegedly injured his mother and another relative with a knife. After an hours-long standoff involving SWAT agents and teargas, he was located in the residence.
Los Angeles police also released separate video footage showing the death of 33-year-old Alejandro Luis Garcia, who was fatally shot by officers after allegedly shattering car windows with a baseball bat.
Mayor Karen Bass described both videos as difficult to watch and called for an independent evaluation into officer-involved deaths, particularly concerning individuals experiencing mental health crises. She emphasized the need to examine policies, training, tactics, supervision, and accountability systems.