A video taken by a bystander shows two Santa Ana police officers restraining a man against a patrol car before he is flung to the ground and punched multiple times by at least one officer.
The video went viral over the weekend, prompting public outcry over excessive use of force by police and a response from city officials, including the mayor and chief of police.
The video was taken Thursday evening, Oct. 1, in a neighborhood near Jackson and 5th streets in Santa Ana.
Several versions of the video shared online show two SAPD officers holding a man bent forward against the front corner of a patrol vehicle before one officer twists him and pushes him to the pavement, where they continue restraining his upper body and arms. Another officer also lifts and bends his lower legs.
One officer can be seen punching the man on at least three occasions, with the bystander recording the video heard yelling, “Don’t be (expletive) punching him! Why are you still punching him?” After the third strike, the bystander continues, “You’re punching him for what?” He also said, “All he was doing was talking (expletive).”
After a little more than a minute, the video shows two additional SAPD officers arriving. At this point, several individuals can be heard asking the officers to stop. The arriving officers approach the growing crowd and ask them to back away from the scene.
In a social media post, Mayor Valerie Amezcua shared a screenshot of the video and said she “immediately contacted” Santa Ana’s city manager and chief of police once she learned of the incident, adding that “the matter is under investigation and details cannot be shared that could compromise the process.”
Amezcua said she supports transparency and a “thorough investigation into this matter.” She added, “Remember there are officers who are professional and we cannot judge all officers by one’s actions, but I will continue to monitor.”
Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez said in a social media post that he is aware of the video of the arrest circulating and has personally reviewed the footage. He said he wants to assure the community that “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. It is important that we allow that process to take place and let the facts guide our conclusion.”
He continued, “As Chief, maintaining the trust of our community remains a responsibility I take seriously, and we will continue to approach this matter with fairness, transparency, and respect for the process.”
When asked whether the involved officers were placed on administrative leave, Officer Natalie Garcia, spokesperson for the department, said, “Our department is reviewing all the available information, including body-worn camera footage, police reports, and the circumstances leading up to” the arrest.
“As with all use-of-force incidents,” she said, “we take these matters seriously and will let the facts guide our review and conclusions.”