​Internal Strife at Azusa PD Becomes Public After Member of DA Gascón’s Inner Circle is Arrested

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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AZUSA – The Los Angeles Times revealed Tuesday that the chief of staff to controversial Los Angeles County District Attorney Gorge Gascón was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication more than one week ago.
 
Joseph Iniguez was arrested at 11:46 p.m. December 11 and booked on suspicion of public intoxication. He was booked at 2:06 a.m. and released at 3:49 a.m. December 12 under penal code section 849(B)(2), according to Los Angeles County booking records.
 
The above-mentioned penal code section states that a person was arrested for intoxication only and that no further proceedings are desirable.
 
The arrest took place in the 900 block of East Alosta Avenue, according to the Azusa Police Department. Officers stopped the vehicle due to a reported vehicle code violation.
 
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Iniguez, 36, said he and his fiancé had left a wedding and were stopped by police at a fast food drive-thru. Iniguez, a passenger, said he exited the vehicle and began recording the police interaction out of concern for his fiancé.
 
“I wanted to record to preserve whatever was going to happen between that officer and my fiancé, because he was not DUI,” Iniguez said in the LA Times interview.

Iniguez alleges officers arrested him as retaliation for filming the traffic stop, but has not provided evidence to support the claim.
 
Azusa Police officers do not wear body-worn cameras, but in answering a statement on the Azusa Police Facebook page, the department stated the Azusa city council has approved funding for a body-worn camera project and the department is working to implement the project as quickly as possible.
 
“The incident has been referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for review.
A personnel complaint has been filed regarding this incident. The Azusa Police Department takes all personnel complaints very seriously. An investigation has been initiated and the Azusa Police Department is fully cooperating with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The president of the Azusa Police Officers’ Association, C.J. Wilkins, pulled no punches in airing out his displeasure with Iniguez and  Azusa Police administration, specifically Police Chief Mike Bertelsen.

“Mr. Iniguez is attempting to abuse his power as a senior member of the LA County District Attorney’s Office, and using it to get him out of trouble. Fortunately for Mr. Iniguez, Azusa PD is currently being led by a Police Chief whom is cowering to Iniguez’ political pressure,” Wilkins said in a written statement. “The Chief will seek to please Mr. Iniguez and investigate a “by the book” arrest, instead of supporting his officer, who is a seasoned field supervisor…”

Bertelsen shot back almost immediately to defend the decision to investigate.

“The union does not speak for the City of Azusa or the Azusa Police Department,” Bertelsen said in a written statement. “The men and women of our police department do an outstanding job every day serving our community with honor and they have my full support. We are committed to accountability and transparency and we are fully cooperating with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office and Attorney General’s office in this matter.”

The police department is legally obligated to investigate civilian complaints, regardless of who made the complaint, Bertelsen said in a written statement.

“Unfortunately, police unions sometimes engage in bullying tactics and “no confidence votes” when their departments initiate more accountability. Sadly this is the latest example. The union’s leaders have resisted implementation of body-worn cameras and internal affairs investigations into alleged on-duty and off-duty misconduct,” Bertelsen said in a written statement.