Police Commission Clears 2 Sergeants in Death of Omar Abrego, Violently Arrested in South L.A.

Lawrencia Colding, center, and other supporters gather at 65th Street and Broadway in South Los Angeles on Jan. 3, 2015, to remember Ezell Ford and Omar Abrego. Abrego died hours after being arrested by police in August 2014. (Credit: Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

by: Los Angeles Times

Posted: Jul 21, 2015 / 04:03 PM PDT

Updated: Jul 21, 2015 / 04:03 PM PDT

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled Tuesday that two LAPD sergeants acted within department policy last year during a violent arrest of a South L.A. man who died the next day.

Police commissioners unanimously sided with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, who recommended the two sergeants and four officers who responded as backup be cleared in the Aug. 2 encounter with Omar Abrego.

Omar Abrego is seen in this photo provided to KTLA by family members.

The decision caps a nearly year-long review of Abrego’s death, which drew local attention from people protesting killings by police. Abrego died about a week before Ezell Ford, a mentally ill black man, who was fatally shot by officers just a few blocks from where Abrego was taken into custody.

Coroner’s officials determined Abrego, 37, died from the effects of cocaine, but listed the “physical and emotional duress” caused by the altercation as a contributing factor.

Click here to read the full story on LATimes.com.