A civil rights lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department accuses a deputy of unlawfully detaining two minors at gunpoint outside their Compton home. According to the complaint, the incident occurred in 2024 after a car alarm began sounding at the family’s residence. Deputy Max Fernandez allegedly confronted the two children, pointed his weapon at them, threatened to kill them and held them without justification. The family’s attorney, Christian Contreras, claims Fernandez had been drinking, became startled by the alarm and overreacted. The lawsuit also alleges Fernandez belongs to a deputy clique accused of using excessive force and engaging in misconduct. In addition, the family says the deputy has repeatedly intimidated them since the encounter by parking his patrol vehicle outside their home. The suit seeks damages and accuses Fernandez of negligence, excessive force, stalking, false detention and intentionally inflicting emotional distress. The Sheriff’s Department has not publicly responded to the allegations.
