A man of Jewish background living in Torrance, California (USA), was arrested and had his car impounded by the police in January 2020. Two days later, when recovering his vehicle, he found that a swastika had been spray-painted on the back seat. Targeted by a complaint since January 2022, the City of Torrance finally reached an agreement with the motorist and paid him $ 750,000, reports The Guardian this Tuesday.
In January 2020, the man was arrested on suspicion of mail theft. In addition to the swastika, his car had also been soiled with cereal and protein powder. A smiley had also been drawn on the front seat with a spray paint. The agents then assured the man that the damage had taken place at the pound. The Californian was convinced that it was the police who had drawn the swastika the evening of the arrest.
A city procedure and a complaint from the victim
As early as August 2021, the Los Angeles County prosecutor (United States) had initiated proceedings against the ex-agents concerned. These were dismissed from the police in March 2020, indicates local television channel KABC. Five months later, the victim filed a complaint directly against the municipality. “I have been managing appeals against police officers for thirty-nine years and I have never seen anything like it,” testified Jerry Steering, the Californian’s lawyer.
The investigation that targeted the two officers also identified numerous racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic text messages exchanged with at least 13 other current and former members of the Torrance police, says the Los Angeles Times. These officials were sanctioned. The two officers suspected of vandalism, who have pleaded not guilty, are awaiting trial.
