Former Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Deputy Joseph Benza III has pleaded guilty to a felony charge following the violent arrest and beating of a transgender man, Emmett Brock, in February 2023. This admission of guilt by Joseph Benza marks a significant development in a case that has exposed allegations of misconduct, cover-up, and civil rights violations within the LASD. The incident involving Joseph Benza has led to wider repercussions, including the dismissal of at least eight deputies and an ongoing FBI investigation.
The charges against Joseph Benza stem from an incident on February 10, 2023, when he stopped Emmett Brock, then 23 years old. According to reports, the confrontation escalated quickly after Brock drove past Joseph Benza and gestured with his middle finger. Prosecutors state that Joseph Benza, allegedly abandoning a domestic violence call, pursued Brock for nearly two miles, informing another deputy of his intent to stop and use force against the individual who had made the gesture.
Video evidence of the encounter, which took place in a 7-Eleven parking lot, shows Joseph Benza approaching Brock and initiating physical contact without clearly stating the reason for the stop. Brock can be heard questioning Joseph Benza’s actions and pleading for him to stop as the deputy forced him to the ground. For approximately three minutes, Joseph Benza is reported to have punched Brock repeatedly while Brock, who can be heard saying “I’m not resisting,” sustained injuries including bruises, scrapes, and a concussion.
Following the incident involving Joseph Benza, Brock was initially charged with multiple felonies and a misdemeanor. He also reported degrading treatment during the booking process, including officers questioning his gender identity despite his identification stating male. Brock was subsequently released on a $100,000 bail. However, all charges against Brock have since been dropped, and a judge has formally declared his innocence.
The aftermath of the arrest involving Joseph Benza revealed discrepancies and alleged attempts to obstruct the investigation. Joseph Benza’s initial report claimed Brock had acted aggressively and made no mention of the middle finger gesture, falsely stating the stop was due to a dangling air freshener. He further claimed Brock bit and attempted to injure him, claims contradicted by medical reports. Evidence later emerged of Joseph Benza and other deputies exchanging text messages, allegedly discussing deleting information from their phones, with a sergeant reportedly directing Joseph Benza to dispose of his phone.
In his guilty plea, Joseph Benza admitted to discussing the incident report with colleagues and acknowledged that a sergeant had contributed significantly to its content. Sheriff Robert G Luna issued a statement condemning Joseph Benza’s conduct, emphasizing that such actions erode public trust and undermine the department’s integrity. Luna confirmed that multiple deputies, beyond Joseph Benza, had been relieved of their duties in connection with the incident, with sources later indicating that eight deputies, including sergeants, were terminated.
Joseph Benza now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law. His attorney has indicated they will seek probation when Joseph Benza returns to court in January. Meanwhile, Emmett Brock, despite being cleared of all charges, continues to grapple with the emotional fallout from the encounter with Joseph Benza. Having lost his teaching job shortly after the arrest, Brock is now employed at a homeless shelter and is pursuing a master’s degree. He has expressed ongoing anxiety about police interactions, highlighting the lasting impact of the incident.
Brock and his legal team have an ongoing federal case against Los Angeles County, Joseph Benza, and other deputies, alleging false imprisonment, civil rights violations, assault, and battery. The case involving Joseph Benza serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for accountability and transparency in law enforcement, particularly in interactions with marginalized communities. The guilty plea of Joseph Benza represents a step towards justice in this particular instance, but the wider investigation and Brock’s continued experience underscore the systemic issues that remain to be addressed.
