Jury Finds Riverside County Liable for Death of Pool Worker Killed by Deputy

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - The family of a mentally ill Cathedral City man who
stabbed a Riverside County sheriff's deputy, prompting the lawman to fatally
shoot him in the back, was awarded $13.1 million at the end of a civil trial
against the county, it was announced today.
  

Logina Perez Monroy and David Monroy, parents of Jeffrey Alexander
Monroy, filed suit claiming federal civil rights violations in connection with
the death of their 33-year-old son, as well as other factors warranting
compensatory awards.
  

Following a nine-day trial that ended Thursday at U.S. District Court
in downtown Los Angeles, jurors returned with the high-dollar findings in favor
of the plaintiffs, whose attorneys characterized it as the ``largest ever
excessive use of force'' verdict against the county.
  

It was not immediately clear whether the defendants intended to appeal.
  

``There is no excuse for shooting Mr. Monroy multiple times in the
back when he was no threat at all to the deputy,'' plaintiffs attorney Houman
Sayaghi said. ``Thankfully, the jury saw the truth and came to the right
conclusion and held law enforcement accountable for its egregious actions.''
  

Attorney Kaveh Navab said it was an ``honor and privilege'' to
represent the plaintiffs.
  

``Nothing can ever replace what they lost, but this verdict represents
justice and accountability,'' Navab said.
  

Though the county was the principal target of the suit, Sheriff Chad
Bianco and the deputy who fired the fatal shots, Cpl. Ruben Perez, were also
named.
  

The defendants submitted an answer to the civil complaint in 2021
stating they unequivocally denied ``all liability or wrongdoing,'' questioning
the ``legal conclusions and arguments'' submitted by the plaintiffs.
  

According to the complaint, the deadly shooting occurred on the
afternoon of Aug. 7, 2020, while Monroy was working for his father's pool
service company, providing assistance with repairs to a pool in the 70800 block
of Tamarisk Lane in Rancho Mirage.
  

Monroy became agitated and walked away from the job site, calling his
brother, Will Monroy, to retrieve him so he could go home, the plaintiffs said.
  

A resident on the block thought Monroy appeared suspicious due to his
bandana and dark clothing, leading the party to call 911 to report a possible
troublemaker, the attorneys said.
  

Perez and Will Monroy arrived at the same time minutes later, and
Perez attempted to question the agitated man, who did not want to answer him.
When the lawman tried to detain Jeffrey Monroy, a struggle ensued, and Monroy
pulled a screwdriver, stabbing the deputy multiple times, including in the
neck, according to court papers.
  

Will Monroy attempted to intervene, physically separating his brother
from the deputy and ``pulling him 20 feet away from the confrontation,''
according to the plaintiffs.
  

``Corporal Perez suddenly and without warning or verbal command,
unjustifiably shot the unarmed Jeffrey in the back multiple times, resulting in
his tragic and untimely death at the scene shortly thereafter,'' the plaintiffs
said.
  

Will Monroy was not hurt.
  

Perez was taken to a Coachella Valley hospital, where he was treated
and ultimately recovered.
  

The plaintiffs argued that the confrontation was already in the
process of de-escalation when the deputy opened fire.
  

The sheriff's department is among the most sued agencies in Riverside
County, resulting in seven-figure payouts or settlements.
  

Perez's work status could not be confirmed Monday.
  

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