A Glendale police officer who was caught on video kicking a juvenile in the face while he was restrained inside the Galleria shopping center has been charged with assault, prosecutors said Monday.
Gonzalo Zendejas, 39, was charged with one count of assault under color of authority for the incident, which took place in June 2021 when officers responded to a robbery call inside the Dick's Sporting Goods store.
Video of the arrest, first released by CBS, shows several officers struggling and punching the teen while restraining him. Zendejas, who can be seen kicking the prone minor in the face, was the only officer charged. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the other officers involved in the arrest or the condition of the teen who was beaten.
“While police officers face an extraordinarily challenging and demanding job as they work to protect our communities, this responsibility does not excuse actions that endanger others or undermine public trust,” the District said. Lawyer. George Gascón said in a statement. “This incident is a serious violation of the duty to serve with integrity and respect.”
Sergeant. Glendale police spokesman Vahe Abramyan said Zendejas remains on administrative leave since the incident. The other three officers who participated in the arrest have already returned to work, Abramyan said.
Zendejas has not yet appeared in court, but faces up to three years in prison if convicted of the charges. It was not immediately clear who his attorney was.
