Corrupt San Diego cop who smirked after breaking handcuffed suspect’s spine, then lied in an attempt at coverup, is sentenced to 57 months behind bars

Jeremiah Manuyag Flores, 45, was convicted in December 2025, after video captured him smirking as he left the jail cell of a suspect he had shoved and left with a fractured spine

The former San Diego Sheriff’s Office deputy was accused of shoving the shackled 57-year-old pretrial detainee, listed as ‘JP’, from behind in the San Diego Central Courthouse jail

The detainee flew ‘across his holding cell’ and slammed ‘headfirst into the far wall’ before collapsing on the ground,

The shackled and handcuffed detainee was left lying in a pool of his own blood, suffering from a spinal column fracture, for over two hours before he was discovered by another deputy

Flores was convicted of using excessive force on a man in pretrial custody and writing a false report in order to cover up the brutal act

Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores, formerly employed by the San Diego Sheriff’s Dept. was sentenced to 57 months bars. Flores was charged in a federal investigation with deprivation of right under color of law and falsification of records and found guilty in December 2025 after a week-long trial

A former San Diego sheriff’s deputy who smirked after he fractured a suspect’s spine before attempting a blatant cover-up has been handed a lengthy jail sentence according to a statement by the Department Of Justice.
Jeremiah Manuyag Flores, 45, was captured on security footage grinning as he walked away from the suspect’s jail cell moments after he battered him.
The former San Diego Sheriff’s Office deputy was accused of shoving the shackled 57-year-old pretrial detainee, listed as ‘JP’ from behind in the San Diego Central Courthouse jail. The detainee flew ‘across his holding cell’ and slammed ‘headfirst into the far wall’ before collapsing on the ground, prosecutors said. 
‘Flores did not provide JP with medical aid and failed to report his use of excessive force to a supervisor,’ the Southern District of California US Attorney’s Office said.

Former San Diego Sheriff’s deputy Flores was accused of shoving the shackled 57-year-old pretrial suspect from behind in the San Diego Central Courthouse jail. The suspect flew ‘across his holding cell’ and slammed ‘headfirst into the far wall’ before collapsing on the ground

The detainee was left lying in a pool of his own blood at the San Diego Central Courthouse Jail for over two hours before he was found by another deputy. The victim suffered a spinal column fracture

The detainee was left lying in a pool of his own blood, suffering from a spinal column fracture, for over two hours before he was discovered by another deputy, according to the charging documents.
Yet, in a report concerning his interactions with the victim, identified as JP, Flores had made ‘multiple false statements, including “no force used”,’ prosecutors said. 
On Tuesday, Flores was sentenced to four years and nine months behind bars for the August 2024 incident.
Jeremiah Manuyag Flores, 45, was sentenced to over four years behind bars after video captured him smirking as he left the jail cell of a suspect he had shoved and left with a fractured spine.

Jail house cameras captured Dep. Flores smirking as he left the jail cell of a suspect he battered and left with a fractured spine, before attempting a coverup. ‘Flores did not provide JP with medical aid and failed to report his use of excessive force to a supervisor’ – Southern District of California US Attorney’s Office

Assistant US Attorney Seth Askins said: ‘The power disparity between the defendant who was in complete control and [JP], who couldn’t do anything to protect himself, was as wide as the ocean.’
Askins said that Flores’s ‘only job was to walk with him,’ and the victim made no action to escalate the situation, such as resistance.  
‘The defendant didn’t have to use any force at all. All he had to do was to keep walking,’ Askins said. 
According to court documents, the detainee also suffered a head wound in addition to the spinal fracture, which required surgery and months of hospitalization. 
US District Judge Linda Lopez condemned the deputy for his actions. Law enforcement officers are relied on to ‘do the right thing.’ Lopez admonished.
‘What you do then matters,’ Lopez said, admonishing the sociopath act of a law enforcement officer smirking after the brutally slamming a detainee against concrete. 
‘I don’t know how many years it’s going to be before I get that photo out of my mind. Your conduct was egregious.’

The handcuffed and shackled 57-year-old detainee was left lying in a pool of his own blood, suffering from a spinal column fracture, for over two hours before he was discovered by another deputy

Flores was charged in a federal investigation with deprivation of right under color of law and falsification of records and found guilty in December 2025 after a week-long trial. 
Following his conviction, Flores was also fired from the sheriff’s office and barred from serving as a law enforcement officer on any level of government.
Flores was released on bond, is set to report to prison by August 18, following his sentencing.