Two off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officers were arrested on Tuesday night after they allegedly pistol-whipped a Whittier man.
The two officers have been identified as Brandon Valdez, 29, and Patrick Fitzgerald, 38. They have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Perhaps a skilled Los Angeles criminal defense attorney will come to their rescue, if they are indeed charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night outside a Panera Bread restaurant in Whittier. Authorities say that one of the officers got into an argument with his girlfriend, where a bystander was watching the altercation while talking on his cellphone. The officers became upset with the bystander and allegedly punched him in the face. One of the officers allegedly pulled out a handgun and began hitting the victim in the head.
The victim was eventually able to escape by running into a nearby Target Store. He sustained blunt force trauma to the head and was treated for injuries at a nearby hospital. The criminal investigation will be conducted by the Whittier Police Department and the administrative investigation is being handled by LAPD's Internal Affairs.
- 2 Off Duty Police Officers Arrested For Allegedly Pistol-Whipping Man in Whittier (Los Angeles Times)
- LAPD Officers Arrested in Whittier (LA List)
- Assault/Battery - Criminal Law (FindLaw)
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