Contra Costa County is now adding more staff to investigate racial bias in cases involving the Antioch Police Department.
Some have suggested the ongoing FBI investigation and racist text messaging scandal involving the department could jeopardize thousands of criminal cases.
And now another legal action has been filed against Antioch police claiming officers engaged in racial profiling and excessive force. Cell phone video from last year shows Antioch police arresting Juan Laspeda and he’s now suing the city over the arrest.Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
According to the complaint filed by his lawyer, it all began when Laspeda was standing outside of a friend's apartment building with his fiance when officers approached them asking if they were"alright.” Laspeda said he told them he was waiting on an Uber, but officers continued to ask questions. Laspeda said things took a violent turn when he tried to walk away.“He definitely was profiled, him and his fiancé, and I believe because they are Hispanic,” said Stanley Goff, Laspeda’s lawyer. “And that does tie to the texting scandal taking place in Antioch.
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