Ramirez

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER REGARDING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

I.

INTRODUCTION

In May 2002, at about 5:45 a.m., a male hispanic driving a small, blue compact car forced a sixteen year old girl into his car, drove away with her and attempted to sexually assault her in the vehicle. Not long after she was abducted, she managed to escape and run to safety. A back pack, containing her school books and other items, was left in the car. It was located about 45 minutes later at a location approximately four miles from the location of her escape. The victim was interviewed by Los Angeles Sheriffs Deputies, but no suspect was identified and no arrests were made.

Eight months later, Los Angeles Sheriffs Det. Frank Bravo arrested Plaintiff Raul Ramirez for the kidnaping and assault. After ten months in jail, Ramirez came to trial, was acquitted by the jury, and was found factually innocent by the trial judge. Ramirez then filed this suit against Det. Bravo and the County of Los Angeles for false arrest and related Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment violations.

Det. Bravo now moves for summary judgment asserting qualified immunity, the doctrine that immunizes law enforcement officers…