The household of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who died after a cellular capturing vary erupted in flames is suing the Sheriff’s Division for wrongful dying, alleging that its failure to correctly clear the trailer resulted in hazardous situations that led to the explosion.
Attorneys for the household of Alfredo “Freddy” Flores, a 22-year veteran of the division, mentioned Monday that the Sheriff’s Division didn’t adjust to orders by state regulators to examine and clear the trailers, creating “unreasonably harmful” situations for the deputy when he confirmed up for a mandated firearm abilities take a look at in October 2023.
“This by no means ought to have occurred,” John Carpenter, an legal professional representing the Flores household, informed reporters at a information convention Monday after submitting the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom. “It was completed with deliberate indifference by the county, and it has to cease.”
The household is requesting that the Sheriff’s Division be prohibited from utilizing cellular capturing ranges and can be in search of an unspecified quantity in compensatory and punitive damages.
Flores, he mentioned, was presupposed to “be in his consolation zone” inside a coaching facility, which was parked close to the Castaic jail complicated. The lawsuit alleges that the buildup of unburned gunpowder residue, lead and different flamable materials triggered the lethal explosion. Flores sustained extreme burns and was hospitalized for six months till his dying.
Flores’ widow, Margarita Gonzales Flores, sat close by, at instances preventing tears. In a ready assertion, she and their 4 kids, who vary in age from 9 to 25, mentioned the loss has left an incredible void of their lives.
“With this lawsuit, we search solutions to our questions and accountability for the tragic incident that took him from our lives,” the assertion mentioned. “We additionally need to be certain that no different deputies lose their lives on this approach as a result of no household ought to need to undergo the devastation that our household has needed to face and continues to face day-after-day.”
The Sheriff’s Division mentioned in a press release late Monday afternoon that the investigation continues to be ongoing however that federal and sheriff’s officers have “preliminarily decided that the character of the hearth is unintentional.”
“As a proactive measure, all cellular capturing ranges throughout the county remained closed whereas they examine,” the assertion mentioned, noting that deputies are utilizing different regulation enforcement ranges or its out of doors one to keep up their firearm {qualifications}. “Our Division is deeply saddened by this tragic incident, which took the lifetime of a devoted and revered member of our Division household, somebody who faithfully served our neighborhood with delight and dedication.”
The household’s lawsuit additionally names the cellular vary producer as a defendant, alleging that the ability was poorly designed. Inveris Coaching Options didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The Occasions beforehand reported that the California Division of Occupational Security and Well being has cited the Sheriff’s Division with violations relationship again to 2021 for skipping inspections, neglecting upkeep and failing to maintain correct information.
Carpenter mentioned the Sheriff’s Division has lengthy identified in regards to the risks of the cellular ranges, which have caught fireplace not less than thrice up to now.
In 2016, a contractor engaged on a trailer parked on the division’s Techniques and Survival Coaching Middle sparked a blaze whereas utilizing a steel grinder. Three years later, a cellular trailer caught fireplace throughout a coaching train, when a non-explosive machine used to simulate a stun grenade began a fireplace that engulfed the trailer. All of the deputies escaped damage.
Additionally in 2019, a trailer parked close to the Castaic jail complicated caught fireplace. Officers mentioned the trigger was a contractor with an influence device.
“We wish them to cease exposing our deputies and our regulation enforcement to this lethal menace,” Carpenter mentioned. The lawsuit additionally alleges that inmates in L.A. County jail have been allowed to scrub and assist preserve the trailers.
Regardless of guarantees from the Sheriff’s Division to resolve what occurred in Flores’ case, Carpenter mentioned, a yr and a half has handed and the deputy’s household nonetheless has not been knowledgeable in regards to the outcomes of the investigation.
“We nonetheless don’t have any assurances that it’s not going to occur once more,” he mentioned.
The Sheriff’s Division has used cellular capturing ranges because the Nineteen Eighties in order that deputies can conveniently take a look at their firearms abilities whereas the company can keep away from paying them time beyond regulation to spend a day driving to a capturing vary at a set location.
Carpenter criticized the Sheriff Division’s reliance on cellular ranges to save lots of on price.
“It’s completed to economize,” he mentioned. “It’s not price it. It’s not even shut.”
The 50- to 53-foot cellular constructions characteristic a number of capturing lanes overseen by a variety grasp. The inside partitions are lined with soundproofing foam, and a thick rubber or steel plate often known as a bullet lure sits behind the goal.
As with different indoor ranges, capturing trailers require common cleansing to forestall a harmful buildup of lead and gunpowder.
