By City News Service
May 11, 2021
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - An inmate accused of punching a female custody assistant five times an attack captured on video surveillance pleaded not guilty today to a felony assault charge.
Arnulfo Meza, 29, who was charged Friday with felony assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury, was ordered to return to court on May 21 for a preliminary hearing, according to a court clerk.
The attack occurred last Wednesday at the Inmate Reception Center in Chinatown after Meza s left hand was unlocked from his waist chain when he asked to use the restroom, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff s Department statement.
Griff Jenkins reports from the scene in Elizabeth City, N.C.
A female Los Angeles County Sheriff s employee was brutally assaulted Wednesday by a jail inmate who asked her permission to use the restroom before throwing a series of punches, authorities said Friday.
Arnulfo Meza, 29, had his left hand unsecured from his waist chain at the Inmate Reception Center when he repeatedly punched a 54-year-old woman working as a custody assistant, the sheriff s department said.
Security footage of the incident shows the woman walking over to Meza to hand him toilet paper when he punches her in the head. As she stumbles from the blow, he throws two more punches, causing her to fall on the floor.
Los Angeles jail inmate faces hate crime charges after sickening attack on female Asian American custody worker where he rained punches on his helpless 54-year-old victim as she tried to hand him toilet paper
Arnulfo Meza, 29, attacked the 54-year-old woman, who has not been named, on Wednesday at the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center
Shocking footage shows Meza raining punches on his helpless victim before calmly walking to a gurney and allowing other workers to restrain him
Meza s left hand had been freed from his waist chain after he asked to use the restroom, a county Sheriff s Department statement said
May 07, 2021 - 7:46 PM
LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles County jail inmate face hate crime charges after he knocked down and repeatedly punched a jail employee who is Asian American, authorities said Friday.
Arnulfo Meza, 29, attacked the 54-year-old woman without warning on Wednesday at the Inmate Reception Center at a jail.
Meza s left hand had been freed from his waist chain after he asked to use the restroom, a county Sheriff s Department statement said.
Surveillance video shows the custody assistant handing the man some toilet paper when he suddenly punches her three times in the face, knocking her to the floor on her back where she crashes into a medical equipment stand. He then punches her twice more before stepping away and sitting on a gurney.