County settles sheriff’s deputy beating lawsuit

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) –

A Riverside man filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department after his attorney said he was severely beaten at the Harrah’s Resort casino in Valley Center.

Attorney Jerry Steering said surveillance video, which he shared exclusively with Eyewitness News, speaks for itself as well as pictures of his client’s injuries.

Jovan Jimenz needed 12 staples to the top of his head after the suspected beating.

“He’s still confused. He still gets terrible headaches,” Steering said.

The lawsuit claims on July 12, inside one of the hotel hallways, Jimenez got into an argument with someone else who was staying at the hotel.

Authorities arrived to break up the argument and decided to arrest him, Steering said. The arrest was for misdemeanor battery. The lawsuit continues that sheriff’s deputies put Jimenez in handcuffs and were walking him down the hall when he made a rude comment to one of them.

“It was something to the effect of, ‘Gee, aren’t you miserable? You’ve got to be working as a policeman now while I’m having fun with all these nice women here in this nice hotel,’” Steering said. “So the officer grabs him by the throat, smashes his head against the wall, slams him down to the floor, kneels down, takes out his flashlight and bashed him over the top of his head.”

Eyewitness News contacted the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to find out if there’s an active investigation into the actions of the deputy, but the office does not comment on investigations.

We also contacted the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, but it would not comment because of the pending litigation.