L.A. Veteran Affairs Officer Sentenced to Prison For Beating Homeless Man with Baton 45 Times

A Los Angeles Veteran Affairs (VA) officer will be spending the next 12 months in prison for violating a homeless man's civil rights through the use of excessive force. The 12-month sentence is the statutorily maximum allowed for the offense.

On Jan. 16, 2022, Juan Anthony Carrillo, 45, arrived at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center to assist a colleague who was detaining a 34-year-old man, referred to as R.V. in court records. Per a memo obtained by Los Angeles Times, R.V. was unhoused and walking around the property holding a clear glass pipe that the officer suspected was drug paraphernalia.

When Carrillo arrived, he started beating the victim with his baton. Investigators found he struck R.V. 45 times in 41 seconds. During the incident, R.V. was unarmed and unable to move as the other officer was on top of him. Carrillo was 60 pounds heavier than R.V. and the other officer was 85 pounds heavier, per a news release from the District U.S. Attorney's office. The victim, who was screaming in pain during the short but intense beating, sustained injuries that included cuts on both legs and a broken bone on his right foot.

Furthermore, Carrillo justified his use of force by falsely claiming that the victim was "violently kicking his legs and refusing to show his hands" in his incident report. The officer's report also omitted the number of strikes he used.

"The excessive use of force alleged in the indictment is disturbing and not representative of the high standards and restraint practiced by the overwhelming majority of police officers," said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office.

Carrillo pleaded guily on July 26 for using excessive force as a law enforcement officer. He was originally charged with deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm. Both offenses carry a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.