LOS ANGELES – An officer with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service was named today in an indictment that charges him with violating the civil rights of a person in handcuffs by kicking him in the head.
Jason Michael Rouswell, 46, of the El Sereno District of Los Angeles, was charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law in relation to the October 20, 2016 incident.
Rouswell, who holds the rank of inspector with the Federal Protective Service, is accused of kicking the victim in the head after the victim had already been handcuffed and while the victim was face down in a prone position. The incident took place outside the offices of the Social Security Administration in Pomona.
The indictment charges Rouswell with willfully depriving the victim of the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by one acting under the color of law. The indictment further alleges that the victim suffered bodily injury.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Rouswell has agreed to self-surrender to federal authorities on July 5 to face the charge in the indictment.
The civil rights offense alleged in the indictment carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The case against Rouswell is the result of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bryant Yang of the General Crimes Section.
