A former San Diego Sheriff's Office deputy has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for fracturing a handcuffed suspect's spine and then attempting to cover up the assault. Jeremiah Manuyag Flores, 45, received the sentence on Tuesday for the August 2024 incident.
Surveillance footage captured Flores smirking as he left the jail cell of the 57-year-old pretrial suspect shortly after the attack. Prosecutors stated that Flores shoved the shackled detainee from behind, causing him to fall across his holding cell and hit his head on the far wall. The suspect sustained a spinal column fracture and a head wound requiring surgery and months of hospitalization.
Flores failed to provide medical aid to the victim, identified as JP, and did not report his use of excessive force to a supervisor. In a report concerning the interaction, Flores made multiple false statements, including claiming that "no force used." The detainee was left in his cell for over two hours before another deputy discovered him.
"The power disparity between the defendant who was in complete control and [JP], who couldn’t do anything to protect himself, was as wide as the ocean," said Assistant US Attorney Seth Askins. "The defendant didn’t have to use any force at all. All he had to do was to keep walking."
US District Judge Linda Lopez condemned Flores's actions, calling his conduct "egregious" and stating she could not forget the image of him smirking after the incident. "What you do then matters," Lopez said.
Flores was charged with deprivation of rights under color of law and falsification of records. He was found guilty in December 2025 after a weeklong federal trial. Following his conviction, Flores was fired from the sheriff's office and barred from serving as a law enforcement officer at any level of government. He is scheduled to report to prison by August 18.
"Upholding civil rights is fundamental to the mission of every law enforcement agency. When an officer violates that oath, equal accountability is essential to maintaining the public’s trust," said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI's San Diego Field Office. "Today’s sentence reflects the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate such matters and ensure those who abuse their authority face appropriate consequences."
A spokesperson for the sheriff's office stated, "Our agency does not tolerate the use of excessive force or lying by deputies. Any Sheriff’s employee who violates the law or policy will be held accountable."
