An anti-ICE protester is bringing a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department, alleging an officer's firing of a foam projectile shattered his jaw during a rally in Downtown LA, as reported by FOX 11. Atlachinolli Tezcacoatl's lawsuit comes in the wake of the department halting the use of such projectiles in crowd control, following a federal judge's order citing the LAPD's contempt of limitations imposed on these weapons.
According to KTLA, Tezcacoatl was following police orders to disperse when he was struck, sustaining injuries necessitating multiple surgeries, and Tezcacoatl's attorney claims the weapon was deployed counter to policy, meant for dispersal when they cannot be used solely for that purpose, contrary to LAPD's claims, the crowd was throwing objects at the officers.
Tezcacoatl's suit, as detailed by Pasadena Now, involves civil rights violations, assault and battery, negligence, and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, citing injuries leading to glaucoma in his left eye, along with chest and nasal injuries incurred during the protest, which opposed the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
In the midst of what became a violent altercation, Tezcacoatl alleges he was targeted despite retreating with hands raised and while filming on his phone as "he never threatened or caused harm to any officer at any point, nor did he cause any type of destruction," his attorney, V. James DeSimone, declared, The officers without issuing commands or warnings began escalating their presence they aggressively advanced on the crowd, launching foam projectiles and trampling people with mounted patrol.
Following the encounter, Tezcacoatl was treated at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and has faced ongoing mouth pain and emotional distress, alongside an inability to return to work, with the lawsuit pursuing unspecified damages for the totality of his suffering and medical costs, "Atlachinolli Tezcacoatl told FOX 11.
