LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to pay $47.6 million to settle several lawsuits alleging misconduct by sheriff's deputies. The payouts include $8 million for the family of Andres Guardado, whose killing prompted large protests.
The settlements resolve five cases. In three of them, deputies shot people. In one, deputies failed to prevent a man from killing himself in jail. In another, a man, whose family said he was suffering a mental health crisis, died after being violently restrained by deputies. The board approved each settlement unanimously.
Lt. Lorena Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Department, said: "When the Board of Supervisors directs County Counsel to do a matador defense on LASD lawsuits, this is what happens." Asked to explain what she meant, Rodriguez said: "Ma'am, you figure it out."
