The Brief
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A brief interaction with a Riverside County Deputy turned into a nightmare, according to a woman who is suing the Sheriff's Department.
What they're saying:
Briana Ortega claims a former Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy used law enforcement databases to stalk and harass her.
She says it was September 2023 when she and her sons had a brief interaction with law enforcement at a family festival in Coachella.
She says Deputy Eric Piscatella was among the law enforcement personnel that was present.
"I had a conversation with the sheriff and that was that you know, I didn’t think anything of it," she told FOX 11.
Briana says no contact information was exchanged, but months later she says she started receiving unsolicited texts from Piscatella.
She says