The U.S. Supreme Court decision is precedent setting. It means supervisors like Sheriff Lee Baca could be held accountable for racial gang violence in his jails.
Sheriff Lee Baca
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca says he’s disappointed with a Supreme Court ruling that a former jail inmate’s lawsuit against him can go to trial. The suit stemmed from a racially motivated jail brawl that left the inmate badly injured.
The U.S. Supreme Court decision is precedent setting. It means supervisors like Sheriff Lee Baca could be held accountable for racial gang violence in his jails.
When Dion Starr was awaiting trial at the Men’s Central Jail in 2006, he claims three Latino gang members came into his cell with homemade knives.
“I was stabbed 23 times. My cellmate was injured real bad. I’m yelling for help, my cellmate is yelling for help, no one comes to help us,” he said.
Starr and his attorney say someone had to let the inmates into the cell. Starr says a deputy watched the entire incident, and afterwards, kicked Starr in the face and broke his nose.
“When I came from the hospital, no one ever asked me one time who stabbed me. I never got interviewed, and I asked for an interview,” he said.
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