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

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.”

LAPD claims Richard Solitro Jr. cut them off en route to an emergency. A witness says LAPD sped by her and fatally shot Solitro in all of 10 seconds.

Solitro Jr.’s family demands systemic law enforcement and mental health care reform after his murder at the hands of the LAPD.

Despite the substantial amount of publicly available evidence regarding deputy gangs, some "cliques" remain in the shadows.

The Executioners live up to their name, but the County has spent millions to keep things quiet.

The Banditos intensify their reign of terror and torment the living family members of the innocent people they kill.

Shot callers in the Banditos took over the East LA Sheriff's Station, but the war didn't stop.

East LA Station has been a notorious LASD gang hub for decades, but not every deputy is welcome.

One attorney has a theory about why the DA refuses to prosecute killer gangs like the Spartans and the Cowboys.

Murder, stalking, and harassment no longer just earned deputy gang members ink — it got them promoted or rehired with back pay.

As the 3000 Boys continued to metastasize in the County jail system, they spawned another gang and massive lawsuits.

Paul Tanaka’s pay-to-play tactics placed gang members in charge of Men’s Central Jail and a new generation of deputies.

As gangs became normalized in LA County, lawsuit settlements and body counts continued to grow.