Santa Ana Police Under Investigation After Video Shows Officers Punching Suspect

Video of Santa Ana officers repeatedly punching a man during an October arrest has triggered a use-of-force investigation. The suspect's attorney calls the conduct excessive and unjustified.

Santa Ana use-of-force probe after arrest video goes viral

A video showing Santa Ana police officers pulling a man to the ground and striking him repeatedly during an arrest on 1 October is now at the centre of a formal use-of-force investigation, ktla.com reports.

The footage, recorded by a family member of the suspect and later shared on social media, captured a bystander shouting at the officers mid-arrest: "Hey, don't be punching him! Everything is being recorded! Why are you still punching him?"

Attorney John Kremer, who represents 28-year-old Florentino Lopez, said the officers' conduct was entirely unwarranted. "The conduct engaged in by the officers was unwarranted, unjustified, and unnecessary and unreasonable," Kremer said.

According to Kremer, Lopez and a relative were smoking marijuana on their front lawn when a police vehicle drove past. The officers stopped and motioned for Lopez to come to them in the street, which he did.

"They recognised my client. They stopped, and they motioned for him to come to them on the street, which he did. He complied," Kremer said.

Kremer acknowledged that Lopez is on felony probation and subject to search and seizure. The video shows Lopez standing against a police vehicle and exchanging words with officers before one officer pulls him to the ground without warning.

"Words are spoken back and forth between the two officers and my client, but there was no physical violence or any kind of resisting them. And all of a sudden, without warning, the officer grabbed my client by his shirt and threw him down, much like an MMA fighter would, and then proceeded to ground and pound him while he was on the ground. And so did the second officer," Kremer said.

After the video spread on social media, Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez said he reviewed the footage and issued a statement. "We take every use of force seriously. Our Department is conducting a thorough review of the incident, including body-worn camera footage, reports, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest," Rodriguez said.

Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua said she would continue monitoring the investigation. "There are officers who are professional, and we cannot judge all officers by one's actions, but I will continue to monitor this investigation," Amezcua said.

Lopez has been charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of resisting an officer, as well as being a pedestrian in the roadway and smoking marijuana on the grounds of a school or daycare. He was held in custody from 1 October; on the following Monday, a court set his bail at $20,000.

Kremer said he believes all charges against his client should be dismissed. "To charge him with charges that didn't even happen, it's ridiculous," he said.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)