West
Lawyer for LA DA George Gascon's embattled right-hand man speaks out: 'Without a doubt falsely arrested'
FIRST ON FOX: The lawyer for Los Angeles’ embattled chief deputy district attorney broke his silence Wednesday after police unveiled video stemming from a 2021 arrest that led to a $10,000 out-of-court civil settlement.
“The video shows that Mr. Iniguez was 100%, without a doubt falsely arrested,” Iniguez’s attorney Glen Jonas told Fox News Digital. “He was lucid, calm, direct and in full control.”
Azusa police pulled over Iniguez’s then-fiance, who was driving the couple home from a wedding.
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A still image taken from jailhouse surveillance video shows Los Angeles Chief Deputy District Attorney Joseph Iniguez making a phone call from lockup after a 2021 arrest for public intoxication. (Azusa Police Department)
Although the fiance was handcuffed, he was not charged, and the public intoxication case against Iniguez ultimately fell apart. However, while examining the incident, investigators found evidence that led to 11 unrelated felony charges against Diana Teran, another top Gascon aide.
Mr. Iniguez in my book is a hero, he took a false arrest and used it to protect the good citizens of Azusa who are now because of him protected with body worn cameras.
WATCH: Video shows Los Angeles DA’s righthand man arrested on public intoxication charge
“I would hope that all of us would try to protect their fiancé under these circumstances,” Jonas said. “Mr. Iniguez in my book is a hero, he took a false arrest and used it to protect the good citizens of Azusa who are now because of him protected with body worn cameras.”
Iniguez recorded the incident on his cellphone. At the time, Azusa police were not equipped with bodycams.
Joseph Iniguez and George Gascon attend Reform L.A. Jails Summit + Day Party: Mental Health Matters on November 09, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Patrisse Cullors)
VIDEO SHOWS LA DA GEORGE GASCON’S RIGHT-HAND MAN ARRESTED IN DUI STOP: ‘YOU’VE PULLED OVER THE WRONG PERSON’
“Without body worn cameras, more innocent citizens would be subjected to false arrests and defamation,” Jonas said.
In the video, Iniguez tells officers, “You’ve pulled over the wrong person, let me tell you.”
“This is not right,” he says. “This is why when they talk about law enforcement and like our interactions with law enforcement – he did the right thing tonight, and drove me. We were at a wedding.”
After handcuffing the driver, the officer told Iniguez he was under arrest as well. (Azusa Police Department)
Iniguez also urged the officers to check his license plates, which could have revealed to them that he worked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
“Run our plates, and see what you find,” he said. “Honestly. I’m not saying anything, just see what you find.”
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He admits to drinking at the wedding and repeatedly interrupts the officer who is attempting to question the fiance.
Also during the encounter, Iniguez urges his fiance not to cooperate with the officers, a potential violation of DA policy and state law.
An officer escorts George Gascon’s right-hand man Joseph Iniguez into a cell after a 2021 stop for public intoxication. (Azusa Police Department)
Iniguez sued Azusa over his arrest, alleging a federal civil rights violation, and received a $10,000 settlement, described by critics as a “nuisance payment,” last year.
According to Jonas, Iniguez donated the payout to “a nonprofit that advocates for modern approaches to constitutional policing.”
On Tuesday, the Azusa Police Department said in a statement that its officers fully complied with state law and internal policies.
Iniguez was accused of repeatedly interrupting an Azusa police officer who was trying to question his then-fiance after a traffic stop. (Azusa Police Department)
“City of Azusa and Chief [Rocky] Wenrick stand firmly behind our employees and the decisions made during [Iniguez’s] arrest,” the department said.
Gascon’s office declined to comment on the matter.
Iniguez also came under fire in recent weeks after the district attorney’s office said it would remove the two lead prosecutors on a child murder trial from the case before sentencing over an apparent conflict of interest – involving Teran. He later backtracked, and they remained on the case after it was transferred to a unit Teran had no connection to.
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San Francisco, CA
Pac Heights mansion sells for $28M as spring market heats up
A Pacific Heights mansion that was once the priciest listing in San Francisco has traded hands as the already-hot spring market continues getting hotter.
The six-bedroom home at 2830 Pacific Avenue was initially listed in 2023 for $35 million before dropping to $27.5 million last spring and ultimately selling last week at that price, the San Francisco Business Times reported.
The seller was listed in records as Helena Trust, an entity tied to Hennessey Capital President Rajiv Ghatalia. Ghatalia bought the property in 2010 for nearly $8.4 million. The buyer is an LLC dubbed Almost Heaven, linked in state business records to the address of San Francisco-based financial services firm Andersen, though the buyer’s identity is unknown. Ghatalia and his wife are downsizing after their children moved out, according to the Business Times.
The Georgian Colonial home was built in 1910 and spans roughly 9,400 square feet. A 2012 renovation brought the home into the 21st century with a seismic retrofit, updated systems and a 1,500-bottle wine cellar. The home also has one of the first residential elevators in the city.
The sale arrives as fresh trophy listings continue to hit the market this spring. Homes priced above $5 million are seeing increased competition, driven in part by tech wealth and limited inventory in the city, which industry observers view as a symptom of the artificial intelligence boom as deep-pocketed buyers in the tech industry move into town. That surge in demand at the higher end of the market has led to a so-called mansion shortage, especially in tony neighborhoods like Pacific Heights.
Late last month, a Russian Hill mansion tied to Gap’s founding family hit the market for the first time. That home at 888 Francisco Street is listed for nearly $17.3 million. Also last month, a Pacific Heights property sold for $56 million, representing the priciest sale in the city so far this year, while another Pac Heights home at 2602 Jackson Street hit the market for $22.5 million. It’s not just single-family homes, either. A penthouse sold last month for more than $10 million, the Business Times reported.
— Chris Malone Méndez
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Denver, CO
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Seattle, WA
BIZNOTE: New retail shop to open in former Willow space in West Seattle Junction
The West Seattle Junction space formerly occupied by Willow, preceded by Fleurt, will not be empty for long. A familiar Junction fashion entrepreneur is moving into 4536 California SW – here’s the announcement:
Well-known West Seattle staple Carmilia’s announced today that it will open a new store in the Alaska Junction, offering everything from skincare products to fashion accessories. The new store, located at 4536 California Ave SW, formerly home to Fleurt and Willow, will do a soft opening on Art Walk Night, May 14, 2026. Carmilia’s owner, Linda Walsh, is at the helm of the project.
The store will be filled with all of Walsh’s favorite things: shoes, accessories, and gifts, at a variety of price points. It’s the perfect place to find unique and playful items for your next celebration or shopping spree. The store’s scheduled hours are Wednesday-Saturday 11 am-6 pm, and Sunday 10 am-4 pm.
Walsh told us she hasn’t yet settled on a name, so if you pass the future shop’s windows you will probably see “Watch This Space” as a placeholder!
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