Cerise Castle, Author at Knock LA

Cerise Castle wrote the first history of deputy gangs inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She's produced and hosted segments for the Emmy-award winning nightly news program, VICE News Tonight, and NPR as well as series for the podcasting giant, Wondery. Her reporting and commentary have been featured in publications like The Daily Beast, The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, and MTV.

Author Cerise Castle

Former undersheriff Timothy Murakami has testified that he received the tattoo of the Cavemen deputy gang while he was a deputy at the East LA station in the 1980s.

Danny Gonzalez, one of three members elected in 2022 who voted to report transgender students to their parents and ban critical race theory, has left the board.

Students and teachers say Temecula’s far-right school board endangers free speech as well as their safety.

A deputy sheriff who lied about shooting his colleague’s gang tattoo off was promoted under former Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

Residents with different agendas united this year to remove members who attacked teaching on race and LGBTQ+ topics. Some Black recall supporters say the community has failed for decades to fight racism.

Compton has the highest number of deputy shootings in Los Angeles County.

Each shooting profoundly impacts the victim and health of the surrounding community, according to a Knock LA survey.

A man who previously mocked people of color killed by police was killed by an alleged member of a white supremacist deputy gang.

Holder was an unarmed Black man shot 17 times by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies on a freeway on-ramp.

Annie Jump Vicente, a former City of LA employee, refused to let deputies into her building without a warrant. She ended up in jail.

There is no video evidence to support critical details of the deputies’ story.

Reporter Cerise Castle obtained security video from a nearby business that shows deputies appearing to violate policy in the incident.

At Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Middle School, Principal Gilberto Samuel is alleged to have sexually harassed colleagues and terrorized queer teachers while ignoring complaints from students.

Records show Eli Vera had six shootings and skipped ranks to promotion. He also pushed his station to enter more people into the CalGang database.

Deputy Konrad Thieme, an alleged gang leader, also has a history of violence against women.

An exclusive Knock LA investigation reveals more details of a 2015 off-duty shooting in Kern County.

Sheriff Villanueva unsure if LASD deputies violated departmental policy when they fired 33 times into a parked car.

Sheriff’s Deputies shot at the unarmed man 33 times.

While the LACDP originally wanted to create a “blacklist” of consultants who worked with the anti-abortion Caruso, they later softened on the Catholic billionaire.

Cerise Castle and Jon Peltz

Staff and parents had complained about the aide’s behavior for months and were ignored.

Staff were protesting Wednesday in response to the hospital’s COVID-19 policy.

One of the “incidents” involved Rhambo firing his service weapon at three dogs.

Since December 18, the LAPD has killed 5 people.

Cerise Castle and Jon Peltz

In an exclusive interview with Knock LA, Rhambo claimed he would reform the Sheriff’s Department. His record suggests otherwise.

Reinosa was vilified in the media for allegedly calling in a false sniper report. The truth is more complicated.

The veteran officer appears to have used his power, influence, and knowledge of law enforcement to sell narcotics.

Jamaal Simpson was shot at least 18 times. His family still does not know why.

More names have been revealed in connection with alleged ties to the Banditos deputy gang.

Citing deputy gangs in the LASD, the party that endorsed Villanueva in 2018 is now asking for his removal.

“If someone can find a gang member who wears tan and green, please let me know.”