Video: Asian-American Custody Assistant Brutally Assaulted By Inmate

An Asian American woman working as a custody assistant was brutally attacked by a Los Angeles County inmate Wednesday at the Sheriff’s Department’s Inmate Reception Center, authorities said Friday.

The whole incident was captured by a surveillance camera. Security footage released by the Sheriff’s Department showed the woman getting punched several times as she was getting the inmate toilet paper, ABC 7 reported.

The inmate, identified as 29-year-old Arnulfo Meza, was being detained at the downtown jail when he asked to use the restroom. When the 54-year-old custody assistant walked over to Meza to hand him the toilet paper he requested, he punched her in the head with his unsecured left hand. He then punched her two more times, causing her to fall on the floor.

But Meza did not stop there and threw two more punches before walking away and returning to his gurney, authorities said.

The woman tried to compose herself, stand up and call for help. Other security guards and personnel then arrived to secure Meza as the unnamed female custody assistant was narrating what had happened.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the 54-year-old custody assistant suffered trauma to the face and head as a result of the attack. She received treatment at an unnamed local hospital and is now in stable condition.

As for Meza, the suspect was transported to a high-security area and is expected to face assault charges. The 29-year-old inmate is also expected to be booked for hate crime charges for his attack on the custody assistant.

The Sheriff’s Department’s Inmate Reception Center is responsible for the processing of inmates who go in and out of the Los Angeles County jail.

The incident is the latest in a growing number of anti-Asian violence cases in the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Just recently, two Asian American sisters working at a liquor store in Baltimore were attacked by a 50-year-old man, identified as Daryl Doles. One of the victims was hit on the head with a cinder block. Footage of the incident was also captured and can be seen here.

The women, aged 66 and 67, were badly hurt from the attack. The woman who got hit with the cinder block needed 25 stitches on her head to close the wound.

A GoFundMe page was put up to raise funds for the victims. As of this writing, it has raised $83,130 for the two victims of the attack that happened on May 2.