The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office stated Thursday that a sheriff’s officer was charged with pepper spraying an inmate at a downtown Los Angeles courthouse and falsifying a 2022 police report.
The District Attorney’s Office announced that Maria Torres, 43, is charged with one felony count each of assault by a public officer and false report by a police officer.
The District Attorney’s Office alleges that Torres unlawfully pepper-sprayed an inmate through a cell door at a courthouse lockup at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center after he refused to leave and then lied about her use of force on Jan. 20, 2022.
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Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated the matter.
District Attorney George Gascón announced the charges, saying, “Deputy Maria Torres’ alleged conduct violate law enforcement values and community confidence. Respect for the victim was due regardless of the circumstances.”
According to the sheriff’s department, Torres’ arraignment date is unknown.
She could serve three years and eight months in prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
