Mexicans San Bernardino County

It began on a hot summer morning in 1988, when authorities responded to a complaint about an all-night party in a front yard in an otherwise quiet Victorville neighborhood. When it was over, six San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies had used batons, elbows, fists and chokeholds to restrain five Mexican citizens. The men claimed police brutality.

San Bernardino County officials have agreed to pay $745,000 to settle a brutality lawsuit filed by five Mexican men who alleged they were beaten by sheriff's deputies at a 1988 party in Victorville. A jury had awarded $956,000 in January, after a trial in U.S. District Court in Los Angehes. Judge A. Wallace Tashima, however, ruled that the damage award was excessive, and reduced the amount to $410,000.

Attorneys representing five Mexican nationals who were allegedly beaten by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies in Victorville filed a $15-million lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, accusing Sheriff Floyd Tidwell and the deputies of a conspiracy to "cover up the incident."

A federal judge in Los Angeles on Friday dismissed a civil rights lawsuit against San Bernardino County and Sheriff Floyd Tidwell stemming from the controversial 1988 arrest of five Mexican men in Victorville. U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said he was dismissing the case because there was "no evidence of a custom or policy" of excessive force that would make it possible for a jury to return a verdict against the defendants.

Civil rights abuse charges were dismissed Friday against one of six San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies accused of brutality in the alleged beatings of five Mexican nationals in 1988. U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima removed Deputy Michael Stout at the request of the lawyer for the deputies.

A Los Angeles federal judge ruled Friday that five Mexicans whose civil rights were found to have been violated by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies may seek damages against Sheriff Floyd Tidwell. Moreover, U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said Tidwell can be held personally liable for the damages if the jury determines that he has perpetuated a policy of misconduct among his deputies.

A federal court jury in Los Angeles awarded nearly $1 million in damages Wednesday to three Mexican nationals who claimed they were illegally beaten by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies during an altercation in Victorville that was videotaped by a next-door neighbor. The case became a cause celebre in the desert community of Victorville, where Latino activists claimed police brutality.

Mexico's consul general in Los Angeles on Thursday hailed a nearly $1-million jury verdict for three Mexican nationals as a victory for all Mexican citizens in the United States who have suffered harassment or beatings by American law enforcement officers.

San Bernardino County officials have agreed to pay $745,000 to settle a brutality lawsuit filed by five Mexican men who alleged they were beaten by sheriff's deputies at a 1988 party in Victorville. A jury had awarded $956,000 in January, after a trial in U.S. District Court in Los Angehes. Judge A. Wallace Tashima, however, ruled that the damage award was excessive, and reduced the amount to $410,000.

A federal judge in Los Angeles on Friday dismissed a civil rights lawsuit against San Bernardino County and Sheriff Floyd Tidwell stemming from the controversial 1988 arrest of five Mexican men in Victorville. U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said he was dismissing the case because there was "no evidence of a custom or policy" of excessive force that would make it possible for a jury to return a verdict against the defendants.

A Los Angeles federal judge ruled Friday that five Mexicans whose civil rights were found to have been violated by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies may seek damages against Sheriff Floyd Tidwell. Moreover, U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said Tidwell can be held personally liable for the damages if the jury determines that he has perpetuated a policy of misconduct among his deputies.

Mexico's consul general in Los Angeles on Thursday hailed a nearly $1-million jury verdict for three Mexican nationals as a victory for all Mexican citizens in the United States who have suffered harassment or beatings by American law enforcement officers.

A federal court jury in Los Angeles awarded nearly $1 million in damages Wednesday to three Mexican nationals who claimed they were illegally beaten by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies during an altercation in Victorville that was videotaped by a next-door neighbor. The case became a cause celebre in the desert community of Victorville, where Latino activists claimed police brutality.

Civil rights abuse charges were dismissed Friday against one of six San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies accused of brutality in the alleged beatings of five Mexican nationals in 1988. U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima removed Deputy Michael Stout at the request of the lawyer for the deputies.

It began on a hot summer morning in 1988, when authorities responded to a complaint about an all-night party in a front yard in an otherwise quiet Victorville neighborhood. When it was over, six San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies had used batons, elbows, fists and chokeholds to restrain five Mexican citizens. The men claimed police brutality.

Attorneys representing five Mexican nationals who were allegedly beaten by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies in Victorville filed a $15-million lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, accusing Sheriff Floyd Tidwell and the deputies of a conspiracy to "cover up the incident."