Hanford police officer indicted after slamming cuffed man to ground. He later died
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Hanford officer indicted for 2023 arrest that led to detainee's fatal head injury.
- Grand jury charged Brian Scandura with involuntary manslaughter and assault.
- Hanford Police placed Scandura on leave; body-cam footage sealed pending trial.
An 18-year veteran of the Hanford Police Department in Central California has been indicted for lethal use-of-force on a handcuffed man whose head struck the ground, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Officer Brian Scandura turned himself in Sept. 10 and was released on bail the same day, Sheriff David Robinson said. Scandura is set to be arraigned in Kings County Superior Court on Sept. 24.
The grand jury indicted him on involuntary manslaughter, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and assault by a public officer. The charges come with the enhancement of great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury.
Robinson said Scandura stopped a man named Richard Saunders about 8:40 p.m. Jan. 27 in an alley behind the U.S. Post Office near the Hanford Library. Saunders was stopped for not having a light on his bicycle, Robinson said.
Robinson said the man being arrested was “vocal and argumentative” but voluntarily put his hands behind his back and into handcuffs before saying “take me to jail.”
Scandura had a K-9 in his vehicle so he was not able to transport Saunders and called for another unit, Robinson said. Scandura told Saunders, who was in handcuffs, to sit down while they waited.
“Officer Scandura then took Richard to the ground in a sudden and aggressive manner while he was still handcuffed,” Robinson said. “This caused Richard to strike his head. He became non-verbal, was bleeding from his head and lost consciousness.”
Saunders was transported to Kaweah Health Medical Center in Visalia but never regained consciousness. He died 17 days later on Feb. 13, Robinson said.
“It should be said the body-camera footage, video and audio are graphic and disturbing,” he said.
A Hanford Police Department panel determined the use-of-force to be outside of policy but was not able to make that announcement before a judge sealed the case until a grand jury review, Robinson said.
Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker said the arrest was difficult news for the community.
“No one is above the law in our county,” she said. “Law enforcement officers carry a profound responsibility to protect and serve the public, and the vast majority of them carry out this duty with professionalism and integrity.”
Hanford Police Chief Stephanie Huddleston released a video statement on the same day the arrest was announced, saying that Scandura was placed on paid administrative leave.
“Please know that the department takes all use of force incidents very seriously, including allegations of excessive force,” she said.
