LAPD officer seen repeatedly punching suspect is charged with assault

By , Fox 11

Published June 09, 2020

A Los Angeles police officer who was seen on video repeatedly striking a trespassing suspect in Boyle Heights in late April was charged Tuesday with assaulting the 28-year-old man, the district attorney announced.

Officer Frank Hernandez, 49, was charged with a felony count of assault under color of authority. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

In response to the news of the charges, the department said Hernandez has been stripped of all police powers and has been assigned home.

District Attorney Jackie Lacey said, "In this case, we believe the force was neither legally necessary or reasonable.''

“This is a disturbing case of the illegal use of force at the hands of a police officer,” her statement continued.

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Following news of the charges, LAPD Chief Michel Moore released a statement saying, “The department has taken this matter very seriously from day-one and he will be held accountable for his actions."

On April 27, Hernandez and his partner, another Hollenbeck Division officer, responded to a call of a trespasser in a vacant lot in Boyle Heights. During a confrontation between police and the victim, Hernandez is accused of illegally punching the unarmed man more than a dozen times in the head, neck and body.

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