Moment woke LA DA George Gascon's right hand man is arrested in DUI stop and how he used his influence to get a $10,000 payout from the cops

A video shows Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon's right hand man telling cops 'you've pulled over the wrong person' and getting arrested after police in Asuza, California pulled over his then-fiance for driving under the influence while driving back from a wedding in 2021. 

Joseph Iniguez, who has since been promoted to chief deputy district attorney and won a $10,000 payout from cops, was riding shotgun when he and his then-fiance were pulled over on suspicion of public intoxication. 

Iniguez, who was DA Gasco's chief of staff at the time, can be heard saying in a video: 'You've pulled over the wrong person, let me tell you'.

He also urges officers to run his number plates, as they would indicate his connection to the LA County DA office.

'This is not right...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'. 

Pictured: Fiance of Jospeh Iniguez gets arrested after being pulled over by cops on suspicion of driving under the influence. Iniguez, the LA District Attorney's right hand man, films cops as he tells them: 'You've pulled over the wrong person'.

Iniguez is then arrested on a public intoxication charge and for interrupting police officers. However, in July 2023, Iniguez managed to settle his lawsuit with Azusa police following his 2021 arrest

He is also heard telling his fiance repeatedly to not speak with the officers, while one cop tells him: 'Just let him do his job'.

As an officer attempts to interview the driver, Iniguez shouts: 'FST's are completely voluntary and not required by law'. 

This is in reference to field sobriety tests, which police conduct to determine a driver's alcohol intake levels. 

Under California law, prosecutors are not allowed to assist in the defense of any suspected criminals, according to FindLaw.

After his fiance is put in handcuffs, a police officer approaches Iniguez and arrests him too on a public intoxication charge.

Still from a jailhouse surveillance video shows an Azusa, California, police officer escorting George Gascon's right-hand man  Iniguez into a cell after a 2021 stop for public intoxication

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

 'Sir, you're currently in public, and you're intoxicated...You're being placed under arrest right now,' the officer can be heard saying. 

The video was recorded by Iniguez on his cellphone.  

Still images taken later from a jailhouse surveillance video show Iniguez making a phone call from a cell following his arrest. 

Last year, Iniguez received an $10,000 settlement from Asuza, after he sued over the incident, alleging a federal civil rights violation in July last year. 

Commenting on his settlement victory, he said: 'Bad policing is a scourge on our community and must be called out.

'While I took this action to hold them accountable, many people with less knowledge of the system have bad experiences with police that impacts their trust for some of our most important public servants.'

He said he planned to donate the settlement to the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, a nonprofit organisation that advocates for criminal justice reform. 

As reported by the LA Times, Iniguez's fiance was pulled over for making an illegal U-Turn, and officers were trying to determine whether his driving was impaired. 

The arresting officer had said that Iniguez was arrested for being combative, slurring his words and having 'bloodshot' eyes. 

The couple, who are now married, were returning from another prosecutor's wedding.  

He claimed he stepped out of the car to film the interaction because he was worried about his fiance. 

Gascon is a progressive prosecutor who has been vocal about his belief that the criminal justice system needs to focus more on intervention and rehabilitation, blasting 'tough on crime' policies as racist and a failure. 

According to Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Iniguez is a 'strong advocate for bringing modern approaches to public safety' and believes in 'sensible reforms that focus on community safety and is passionate about addressing the school to prison pipeline through alternatives to incarceration'. 

According to his Instagram he is the first gay DA elected in LA County's DA office.