Officers charged in ‘gladiator fights’ at California detention

California’s attorney general has announced charges against 30 officers accused of orchestrating and encouraging violent brawls between detained youth at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, California. The charges, which include child endangerment, abuse, conspiracy, and battery, stem from a disturbing investigation into a series of fights that took place within the facility between July and December 2023.

According to Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, officials identified 69 separate fights during this period, ultimately uncovering 143 juvenile victims aged between 12 and 18. The investigation began after leaked footage of one of the fights surfaced, leading authorities to uncover a widespread pattern of violence and neglect by officers responsible for overseeing the detained youth.

Of the 30 officers facing charges, 22 were formally arraigned in court on Monday, while the remaining eight are set to appear in April. Attorney General Bonta strongly criticized the actions of the officers, highlighting that they were entrusted with the responsibility to protect the vulnerable youths in their care but instead allowed and even promoted violent altercations.

“Officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall are responsible for safeguarding the safety and well-being of those in their charge,” Bonta told sources. “Instead, these officers were overseeing ‘gladiator fights’ when they should have stepped in to prevent them.”

The leaked video footage, which was published by the Los Angeles Times, showed one of the shocking incidents inside the facility. In the video, a teen is seen falling to the ground after being punched and kicked repeatedly by multiple other detainees.

Several officers can be seen standing nearby, watching the brutal attack unfold without intervening. Some are even seen laughing and shaking hands with the aggressors as the fights continue.

While watching the video, Bonta remarked that the officers appeared more like referees or spectators at a prizefight rather than adults responsible for the care and supervision of young individuals. He noted that the officers failed to intervene, step in, or protect those under their care.

The Los Angeles County Probation Department, which operates Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, responded to the scandal by placing all involved officers on leave without pay. In a statement, the department expressed full support for the attorney general’s decision to indict those responsible.

The department reached out to law enforcement authorities once misconduct was identified and has since fully cooperated with its law enforcement partners.

Meanwhile, legal action is already taking shape. At least two of the juveniles involved in the fights have retained legal representation and plan to sue Los Angeles County, according to the New York Times. Attorney Jamal Tooson, who represents both teens, revealed that one of his clients, a 16-year-old, was among those attacked in the video. The other, he said, was assaulted three times in a single day at the facility, leaving him unconscious and suffering from a traumatic brain injury.

The unfolding scandal has drawn widespread condemnation and raised serious concerns about the treatment of youth within the state’s juvenile justice system. With legal proceedings now underway, the case is expected to bring greater scrutiny to the oversight and accountability of detention center staff in California.