Carlos Peña, a North Hollywood business owner, is expressing his frustration and defenselessness after a judge ruled that the City of Los Angeles will not be responsible for compensating him for damages caused by a SWAT team nearly two years ago. The incident occurred on August 4, 2022, when a federal fugitive entered Peña’s print shop and assaulted him before law enforcement intervened.
The chaotic scene included U.S. Marshals and the LAPD’s SWAT team, who engaged in a 13-hour standoff with the suspect. The authorities used tear gas, which contaminated all of Peña’s printing equipment and supplies, including printers, ink, T-shirts, and banners. Despite Peña’s efforts to file a claim for around $60,000 in lost equipment and wages, the U.S. Marshals denied his claim, leading him to sue the city for damages.
However, in a devastating blow to Peña, a federal judge ultimately ruled that the government is permitted to seize property in the course of criminal investigations, absolving the City of Los Angeles from compensating Peña for the damages incurred during the standoff. This decision has further devastated Peña who has since relocated his business operations to his garage and has experienced an 80% decline in business due to it being contaminated by tear gas used by law enforcement during this incident despite suspect not being apprehended. He has lost faith in the government and feels abandoned in his time of need as he struggles to keep his business afloat amidst these challenges.
Peña feels frustrated with the lack of accountability on behalf of law enforcement officials who were responsible for causing this damage to his business property while attempting to apprehend this suspect. He believes that proper compensation should be given for any losses or damages caused by government agents during their actions.
This case highlights how difficult it can be for individuals or businesses affected by such incidents to receive fair compensation from those responsible for causing them harm. It also serves as a reminder that there needs to be greater transparency and accountability within our legal system when it comes to issues involving personal property rights and damage caused by government agencies.
Overall, Carlos Peña’s story underscores how important it is that justice is served fairly when it comes to issues involving personal property rights and damage caused by government agencies