County, Hesperia not liable for deputies accused of beating man

San Bernardino County and the City of Hesperia are not liable for the actions of deputies who allegedly beat a man while they were investigating a possible cock fight in Hesperia, according to a decision by a federal judge.

The plaintiff, Mauro Galarza, sued the county, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Hesperia, saying that three deputies beat him while he was handcuffed and did not call an ambulance when he began coughing up blood.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Whaley ruled that none of the public agencies were liable for the deputies’ alleged actions, according to attorney Tristan G. Pelayes, who represented the county in the case. The judge said Galarza would have had to prove that the reported violence was permitted or encouraged by those agencies.

A jury trial is now scheduled for March 29 in Riverside against the three deputies, according to Galarza’s attorney, John R. Cogorno of Westminster.

Holly La Pat may be reached at (760) 951-6234.

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