Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is dealing with calls to resign after he stated the Los Angeles Instances journalist who reported on allegations he was concerned in overlaying up the case of an abused inmate was beneath felony investigation.

Alene Tchekmedyian, who usually covers the sheriff's division, printed an article on Monday detailing a authorized declare filed by a sheriff's commander that accused Villanueva of obstructing justice and retaliating towards whistleblowers.

The report included surveillance footage of the March 2021 incident, and stated the deputy had knelt on a handcuffed inmate's head for greater than three minutes.

At a information convention on Tuesday, Villanueva stated the video was "stolen property that was eliminated illegally." He displayed giant photographs of Tchekmedyian, LA County Inspector Common Max Huntsman and former Sheriff's Commander Eli Vera beneath the heading: "WHAT DID THEY KNOW AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT?"

Requested by reporters if he was investigating Tchekmedyian particularly, Villanueva stated that "all events to the act are topics of the investigation."

The sheriff's feedback prompted rapid criticism from the newspaper's management and First Modification advocates.

"Sheriff Alex Villanueva's assault on Alene Tchekmedyian's First Modification rights for doing newsworthy reporting on a video that confirmed a deputy kneeling on a handcuffed inmate's head is outrageous," the paper's government editor Kevin Merida stated in a press release.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaks
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaks at a press convention on, November 2, 2021 at a press convention in downtown Los Angeles. Robyn Beck/AFP through Getty Photographs

"His try and criminalize information reporting goes towards well-established constitutional regulation. We are going to vigorously defend Tchekmedyian's and the Los Angeles Instances' rights in any continuing or investigation introduced by authorities."

Hours later, Villanueva—who's up for reelection—clarified his remarks in response to what he referred to as an "unbelievable frenzy of misinformation being circulated."

He wrote in a tweet: "I have to make clear at no time at this time did I state an LA Instances reporter was a suspect in a felony investigation. Now we have no real interest in pursuing, nor are we pursuing, felony expenses towards any reporters."

However critics of Villanueva's actions are calling for him to resign or be eliminated.

Writer and investigative reporter Thomas Peele tweeted: "That is an extremely brazen assault on the free press. All journalists should stand behind @AleneTchek and the appropriate to report on authorities abuse. @LACoSheriff Villanueva is unfit for public workplace. He should resign or supervisors should push him out."

"Villanueva has proved himself time and again to be an anti-democracy militarist politician posing as a peace officer," commentator Keith Olbermann tweeted.

"He must be eliminated instantly, and criminally prosecuted. The @LASDHQ has been completely corrupted by this one rogue cop. He has to go."

Artwork Acevedo, the previous police chief of Miami, tweeted that Villanueva's actions have been "one thing proper out of an authoritarian strongman playbook. Angelinos deserve higher."

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis pledged to ask California Lawyer Common Rob Bonta to research Villanueva's "sample of unconscionable and harmful actions."

"Sadly, Sheriff Villanueva has a behavior of attacking, maligning, and threatening those that oversee or report on his misconduct," Solis stated.

Villanueva has been contacted for remark.