The Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, has urged an independent review into deaths involving police officers after newly released body-camera footage showed LAPD officers repeatedly using force on a handcuffed detainee who was later found dead in his jail cell.
On Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department released footage documenting the death of 58-year-old Jose Carlos Hoyoz-Munoz, who died on 15 July at the Van Nuys regional jail. The video reveals a series of confrontations between officers and the detained man, culminating in him being pinned face-down on a cell bed before being discovered unconscious.
A Violent Sequence Unfolds on Camera
The footage begins with Hoyoz-Munoz inside his holding cell, apparently flapping a piece of cloth against a window. Multiple officers entered and forced him to the ground, an action the department attributed to “combative” behaviour while they attempted to fingerprint him.
Officers then placed him in a harnessed chair used to transport detainees to booking areas. The LAPD said Hoyoz-Munoz resisted, prompting officers to lean their body weight on top of him again. After he allegedly spat at officers, a spit hood was placed over his face.
He was escorted back to his cell still handcuffed, with the spit hood partially covering his face and his trousers sagging to his ankles. When Hoyoz-Munoz climbed onto a toilet, officers re-entered the cell and moved him face-down onto the bed, piling on top of him.
The department stated officers conducted wellness checks for 20 minutes afterward, during which he reportedly showed signs of life. However, a later check found him unconscious and not breathing.
The Initial Arrest
Hoyoz-Munoz was originally arrested on 13 July following a call reporting a suspected assault with a deadly weapon. Police alleged he had injured his mother and another relative with a knife.
Upon arrival, an officer found his mother with a laceration on her arm. “He has lost his mind. He’s gone crazy,” she said in Spanish, according to the release. Another family member also sustained a wound to his arm.
An hours-long standoff with law enforcement followed, during which Swat agents deployed teargas. Eventually, an agitated Hoyoz-Munoz was located inside the residence, kneeling before a piano, touching the keys and speaking about religion.
The LAPD initially reported two use-of-force incidents had occurred. Following its review, the department revised that figure to three incidents when releasing the body-camera footage.
A Second Tragic Death
Alongside the Hoyoz-Munoz footage, the LAPD released video showing the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Alejandro Luis Garcia, whom officers shot dead after he allegedly shattered car windows with a baseball bat.
Calls for Systemic Reform
In a Friday statement, Mayor Bass described both videos as difficult to watch and called for an independent evaluation into officer-involved deaths, particularly those involving individuals experiencing mental health crises.
“People who experience behavioural or mental health crises often do not receive the proper care they desperately need,” Bass said. “Without it, they can deteriorate into behaviour that can result in severe injury or death.”
She added: “We must rigorously examine whether our policies, training, tactics, supervision and accountability systems are sufficient.”
Why it Matters
The dual release of body-camera footage in Los Angeles has placed the LAPD under intense international scrutiny, exposing troubling questions about police conduct towards vulnerable individuals in crisis. With Mayor Bass herself calling for an independent investigation, the department faces pressure to demonstrate that its handling of mental health emergencies aligns with both American policing standards and the broader global shift towards de-escalation and specialised crisis response. The cases of Hoyoz-Munoz and Garcia have become flashpoints in an ongoing debate about accountability, training and the treatment of those suffering from mental illness within the criminal justice system.