Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca takes questions from the media after the FBI released results of a federal probe, Monday, Dec 9, 2013 at a news conference in Los Angeles. Federal officials say 18 current and former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies saw themselves as being "above the law," engaging in corruption and civil rights abuses that included beating inmates and visitors, falsifying reports, and trying to block an FBI probe of the nation's largest jail system. Sheriff Baca said that he was troubled by the charges and called it a sad day for his department. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
December 09, 2013 - 11:05 AM
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - At least seven current and former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies have been arrested by the FBI as part of an ongoing investigation of inmate abuse in the nation's largest jail system.
A law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the arrests who wasn't authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity confirmed the arrests were made Monday by federal agents.
Federal authorities called a news conference Monday afternoon to announce criminal corruption and civil rights charges filed in the case.
The FBI has been investigating allegations of excessive force and other misconduct at the county's jails since at least 2011.
A Sheriff's Department spokesman says he's aware of an indictment but refers calls to the FBI.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013