INGLEWOOD – A woman was killed after she was run over by a Republic Services trash truck on Feb. 14.
Inglewood Police Department (IPD) officers responded to a call of a reported “person down” in the alleyway in the 900 block of South La Brea Ave. around 2:40 p.m.
The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Roneisha Charles, 29, who listed she was a victim of a “hit and run” crime when a trash driver callously ran her over.
“The trash truck was traveling North at an unknown speed and struck the defendant and continued to drive before coming to a stop.”
Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics pronounced her deceased at 8:07 p.m.
Charles’ autopsy report indicates “charges are pending” and is being investigated by IPD. It is unknown if the department has filed any charges with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Republic Services is a major campaign contributor to Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. who was entangled in a multi-agency investigation into his voting on awarding the company a contract while his brother worked for the company in its Gardena office. The company has also hired Inglewood Councilman Eloy Morales Jr. as a paid consultant during the term of their agreement with the City.
Republic Services is also making an extraordinary amount from annual trash rate increases, which included TWO rate increases in 2023.
According to the complaint, it was alleged that Butts had approached executives at two bidders with an offer of support in exchange for a job for his brother.
Butts participated in preliminary votes on the contract, including approving exclusive negotiations with Consolidated. He abstained from the final vote, on June 5, 2012, in which the council approved the contract 3-1.
“My brother was an employee of one of the bidders [Republic Services] at the time of the vote to award, and I abstained because of the optics of the situation,” Butts told the Los Angeles Times.
According to insiders with Republic Services, the mayor’s brother’s employment ended with the company this year.
“This company is very racist against black people,” said a source within the department.
Butts was never charged with any wrongdoing after the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office told the Los Angeles Times they “couldn’t find” the files related to the investigation.
It is unknown if Charles’ family has filed a claim or lawsuit against the City and/or Republic Services in connection with her death.
