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With all the conversations about policing happening across the country, there is one case that always sticks with me that never got the attention as many others: Jazmyne Ha Eng.
A short thread...
A short thread...
Eng had a history of issues with mental health. In Jan. 2012, she was seeking help at a Rosemead mental health clinic. She was "sitting calmly" with a "full sized" ball peen hammer when a person at the clinic called for help. 4 LAC Sheriff's responded. https://www.sgvtribune.com/2012/01/17/audio-rosemead-woman-was-reportedly-sitting-calmly-when-man-called-for-assistance/
Eng was in the lobby of the facility. Her therapist was in the lobby with her for a time, but kept their distance and there were never any reports that Eng threatened the therapist in any way. Eng's family's lawyers claimed she only reacted when sheriff's charged into the lobby.
Eng, allegedly, charged officers then with the hammer. She was shot and killed.
It is important to note at this time that Eng was a 4'11, 95 lb, 40 year old woman. https://www.sgvtribune.com/2012/01/05/deputies-dimunitive-woman-wielded-hammer-before-deadly-shooting/
It is important to note at this time that Eng was a 4'11, 95 lb, 40 year old woman. https://www.sgvtribune.com/2012/01/05/deputies-dimunitive-woman-wielded-hammer-before-deadly-shooting/
Four officers responded to the initial call about Eng sitting in the office with the hammer. They say they used a Taser to try and subdue her first and that didn't work, although a coroner never found evidence of Taser darts on Eng's body. https://www.sgvtribune.com/2013/08/12/family-of-rosemead-woman-killed-by-deputies-claim-shooting-was-unprovoked-and-malicious/
When we covered this in 2012, there was some initial calls for reform. Some local politicians asked for more funding for mental health services. But eventually it faded. The family sued and settled for $1.8 million. https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2014/02/18/county-approves-18-million-settlement-in-shooting-of-mentally-ill-rosemead-woman/
I didn't cover this story much myself, it was mostly my former colleagues (such as @TheNewsBrian), but 8 years later it is one of the cases I think about the most.
@KPCC Did a thorough look at this case, as well, in 2015 as part of their "Officer Involved" project. It was one of the only times I ever saw another publication write about her case. https://projects.scpr.org/officer-involved/stories/a-call-for-help/
