Eighteen current and former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies were arrested Monday in connection with an FBI investigation into misconduct.
Deputies were indicted on charges of conspiracy, obstruction and giving false statements. Inmates and visitors were abused and humiliated, and efforts were made to cover up misconduct, U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. said at a press conference
"These incidents did not take place in a vacuum," Birotte said. "They demonstrated behavior that had become institutionalized."
Of the 18 indicted deputies, 13 are current Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department employees and three are former employees who were arrested at their homes. Two others are pending arrest.
Bill Lewis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said the misconduct should "not reflect on the department as a whole."