Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is calling for an independent examination of two fatal LAPD incidents captured on video, cases that authorities say began with men allegedly acting violently and creating dangerous situations that drew police response.
Announcing the move Friday, Bass described the videos as “incredibly difficult to watch” and said she plans to issue an executive directive focused on officer-involved deaths and serious injuries, with particular attention to encounters involving people in mental health crisis.
At the same time, the mayor conceded that Los Angeles police will still be summoned when a crisis turns violent and public safety is at risk.
“The reality is, until society provides the proper care for individuals with mental health disorders, law enforcement will continue to be called upon to respond, especially when those individuals exhibit violent behavior,” Bass said.
One of the incidents centered on 59-year-old Jose Carlos Hoyos-Munoz, who LAPD officials said was arrested July 13 after allegedly attacking his mother and brother with a deadly weapon and then barricading himself inside a Chatsworth residence.
The confrontation stretched on for eight hours before officers took Hoyos-Munoz into custody. Police said he was first transported to a hospital to be “treated for exposure to gas utilized by SWAT personnel,” then released and booked at the Van Nuys Regional Jail.
Two days later, according to police, jail personnel removed him from his cell and a “non-categorial use of force” occurred while officers placed him in a “five-point restraint chair” so they could take his fingerprints.
Hoyos-Munoz was subsequently transferred to a one-person cell, where he remained handcuffed for a short period.
When officers returned, another “non-categorial use of force” occurred, police said. Officers placed Hoyos-Munoz face down on his bunk and removed his cuffs.
About 20 minutes later, officers found him unconscious and not breathing.
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“Despite medical intervention, Hoyos-Munoz failed to respond to treatment and was pronounced deceased,” the LAPD said.
Three detention officers were also injured during altercations with Hoyos-Munoz. They were treated for contusions and minor lacerations.
The second fatal encounter involved Alejandro Lopez Garcia, who police said was armed with a baseball bat in South Los Angeles on July 29.
Garcia was allegedly swinging the bat at people and occupied cars beneath the 10 Freeway near Normandie Avenue and Washington Boulevard in West Adams.
When officers arrived shortly before 6:30 p.m., police said Garcia was still wielding the bat, including at officers and bystanders.
Officers opened fire, killing Garcia.
Bass said both men appeared to be experiencing mental health crises and blamed decades of disinvestment in community-based mental and behavioral health services for leaving too many Angelenos without timely care.
She said LAPD officers “do not enter the force to become first responders to mental health crises” and are not equipped with the proper training to do so.
Bass’s planned independent review will examine LAPD policies, training, tactics, supervision and accountability.
It will also consider mental health support for officers following critical incidents.
She also called for expanded civilian crisis-response and co-response programs for people in crisis who have not exhibited violent behavior, potentially reducing the need for armed officers.
“Public safety cannot be achieved through law enforcement alone,” Bass said.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You are not alone. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
