In September 2023, Deputy Justin Padilla was accused of holding a woman down while she was assaulted outside his home. He was charged with false imprisonment (a felony) and battery (a petty misdemeanor). As a result, over 50 criminal cases in which he was the primary officer were dismissed due to concerns about the integrity of investigations. In December 2024, the felony charge was dropped after a judge found no probable cause, partly because the investigating officer did not appear in court. Padilla remained on administrative leave pending further proceedings.
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