Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced today that a Los Angeles police officer has been charged with an on-duty assault of a 28-year-old man in April.
“This is a disturbing case of the illegal use of force at the hands of a police officer,” District Attorney Lacey said. “In this case, we believe the force was neither legally necessary nor reasonable.”
Frank Hernandez (dob 5/8/71) was charged in case BA487734 with one felony count of assault under color of authority. Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
The case was filed for warrant on June 8.
On April 27, Hernandez and his partner responded to a call of a trespasser in a vacant lot in Boyle Heights. During a confrontation between police and the victim, Hernandez is accused of illegally punching the unarmed man more than a dozen times in the head, neck and body.
District Attorney representatives worked closely with LAPD detectives who investigated the matter. The case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration on June 2.
If convicted, the defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of three years in county jail.
The case is being prosecuted by deputy district attorneys assigned to the office’s Justice System Integrity Division, which prosecutes crimes committed by law enforcement officers, judges, attorneys and other members of the justice system.
About the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to protecting our community through the fair and ethical pursuit of justice and the safeguarding of crime victims’ rights.