A 25-year-old man has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies brutally beat him outside a Santa Clarita bar, leaving him hospitalized with severe injuries.
At a Glance
- Federal lawsuit filed Aug. 25, 2025, in California Central District Court
- Allegations involve three off-duty deputies at The Break Room bar
- Victim claims fractured jaw, punctured lung, and other injuries
- Deputies relieved of duty; internal investigation opened Dec. 2, 2024
Alleged Assault at The Break Room
According to the lawsuit, the incident began inside The Break Room in Santa Clarita around 10:30 p.m. on November 27, 2024. Plaintiff Parker Seitz, 25, alleged that deputies Randy Austin, Nicholas Hernandez, and a third unnamed deputy harassed him throughout the evening, repeatedly grabbing at his sunglasses.
When Seitz and his friends left the bar around 1:36 a.m. on November 28, the confrontation escalated. Hernandez allegedly knocked Seitz’s sunglasses to the ground, prompting Seitz to walk away. At that point, Austin allegedly punched him without warning, knocking him down. Seitz claimed that all three deputies then joined in a violent beating, leaving him with a fractured jaw, punctured lung, and bruised collarbone.
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Cover-Up Allegations
The lawsuit also accused Captain Justin Diez, then commander of the Santa Clarita Valley station, and Deputy Richard Wyatt of attempting to downplay or obscure the assault. According to the filing, Wyatt told Seitz’s friend that the victim had thrown the first punch and had acted disruptively at the hospital, allegations Seitz denies.
Diez allegedly called Seitz’s father soon after the attack, describing Seitz as the aggressor and suggesting the family could “leave it to him” rather than pursue further action. Seitz’s legal team claims these were attempts to pressure the family into dropping the matter.
Department Response
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that the three deputies were relieved of duty on December 2, 2024, pending the outcome of an internal investigation. In a statement, the department said it takes the allegations seriously and is reviewing the events leading up to the lawsuit.
The case now moves forward in federal court, with Seitz seeking damages from Los Angeles County, the deputies, The Break Room bar, and associated security personnel. Legal experts suggest the case could test how agencies handle off-duty conduct by law enforcement personnel and the transparency of internal oversight mechanisms.
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