Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
A squad of hungry, destructive police officers in Southern California are looking for new jobs after security camera footage caught them unlawfully raiding a dispensary's stash.
Three Santa Ana police officers who've pled not guilty to charges of petty theft and vandalism in connection with the May 2015 raid of Sky High Holistic dispensary in Santa Ana have subsequently been fired.
The officers were caught on tape eating evidence, insulting a patient in a wheelchair, and playing darts on the taxpayers' dime. The officers also attempted to destroy all security cameras in Sky High Holistic, but a hidden camera planted in anticipation of the raid captured the incidents.
According to reports, officers Brandon Matthew Sontag, Nicole Lynn Quijas and Jorge Arroyo were fired from the Santa Ana Police Department. Sontag and Quijas' last day was May 6, while Arroyo's last day was the international stoner holiday, April 20.
The dispensary's attorney Matthew Pappas stated Tuesday that the results are a rare case of police accountability at a time when it is desperately needed in America.
"Around the country, citizens need to see and hear that police officers who break the law are held accountable. Orange County's District Attorney took bold action when charges for destruction of property and theft — not just shootings or beatings of citizens — were filed to hold Santa Ana officers accountable for last year's police raid of the Sky High Holistic marijuana collective in Santa Ana. It is time law enforcement, agencies like Child Protective Services and politicians nationwide, recognize medical cannabis is not going away and that recreational marijuana — far safer than alcohol — should be legal and not the basis for imprisoning Americans or taking children from families."
Pappas holds a press conference on the firings today at 1:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Ana, at 7 Hutton Centre Drive.
During the raid, Santa Ana police burst into the tranquil pot shop and ordered staff and patients to the ground at gunpoint.
"Did you punch that one-legged old benita?" a male officer asks a female officer in the incendiary video.
"I was about to kick her in her f*cking nub," a female officer replies.
During the video, an officer in a yellow shirt says, "There are some good looking chocolate bars back there." Minutes later, a bald-headed cop takes a bite of the chocolate and replies, "These bars are pretty good. I kinda feel light-headed though," while talking with his mouth full.
The defendants said they did not eat marijuana-laced food, but rather non-medicated staff food. However, the three officers were never drug-tested, OC Weekly reports.
After the dispensary released the video, Police Chief Carlos Rojas put the officers on paid leave. The officers motioned to have the video footage suppressed, arguing the filming violated their rights to privacy during the raid.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald Bauer ruled "[police] should not expect privacy in their on-duty performance of an official function at a marijuana dispensary. They have made no claim that their work required secrecy or that it would be impeded by public review."
In March, the Orange County District Attorney filed petty theft and vandalism charges against the trio, who have pled not guilty.
Local prosecutors must now convince a jury that the officers stole "protein bars" and "cookies." If convicted, the Sky High trio faces between six months to a year in jail and fines. They will appear in court next month for a pre-trial hearing.
Orange County and Santa Ana continues to be a battleground for medical cannabis patients, their caregivers and providers. While medical marijuana activity is popular and robust in the relatively conservative Orange County, local lawmakers have failed to effectively regulate any aspects of the legal trade, experts say. Unlicensed delivery services, retail dispensaries and raids on them are common.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana-Munching Cops Fired After Being Caught On Tape
Author: David Downs
Contact: SFGate
Photo Credit: OC Weekly
Website: SFGate
Three Santa Ana police officers who've pled not guilty to charges of petty theft and vandalism in connection with the May 2015 raid of Sky High Holistic dispensary in Santa Ana have subsequently been fired.
The officers were caught on tape eating evidence, insulting a patient in a wheelchair, and playing darts on the taxpayers' dime. The officers also attempted to destroy all security cameras in Sky High Holistic, but a hidden camera planted in anticipation of the raid captured the incidents.
According to reports, officers Brandon Matthew Sontag, Nicole Lynn Quijas and Jorge Arroyo were fired from the Santa Ana Police Department. Sontag and Quijas' last day was May 6, while Arroyo's last day was the international stoner holiday, April 20.
The dispensary's attorney Matthew Pappas stated Tuesday that the results are a rare case of police accountability at a time when it is desperately needed in America.
"Around the country, citizens need to see and hear that police officers who break the law are held accountable. Orange County's District Attorney took bold action when charges for destruction of property and theft — not just shootings or beatings of citizens — were filed to hold Santa Ana officers accountable for last year's police raid of the Sky High Holistic marijuana collective in Santa Ana. It is time law enforcement, agencies like Child Protective Services and politicians nationwide, recognize medical cannabis is not going away and that recreational marijuana — far safer than alcohol — should be legal and not the basis for imprisoning Americans or taking children from families."
Pappas holds a press conference on the firings today at 1:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Ana, at 7 Hutton Centre Drive.
During the raid, Santa Ana police burst into the tranquil pot shop and ordered staff and patients to the ground at gunpoint.
"Did you punch that one-legged old benita?" a male officer asks a female officer in the incendiary video.
"I was about to kick her in her f*cking nub," a female officer replies.
During the video, an officer in a yellow shirt says, "There are some good looking chocolate bars back there." Minutes later, a bald-headed cop takes a bite of the chocolate and replies, "These bars are pretty good. I kinda feel light-headed though," while talking with his mouth full.
The defendants said they did not eat marijuana-laced food, but rather non-medicated staff food. However, the three officers were never drug-tested, OC Weekly reports.
After the dispensary released the video, Police Chief Carlos Rojas put the officers on paid leave. The officers motioned to have the video footage suppressed, arguing the filming violated their rights to privacy during the raid.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald Bauer ruled "[police] should not expect privacy in their on-duty performance of an official function at a marijuana dispensary. They have made no claim that their work required secrecy or that it would be impeded by public review."
In March, the Orange County District Attorney filed petty theft and vandalism charges against the trio, who have pled not guilty.
Local prosecutors must now convince a jury that the officers stole "protein bars" and "cookies." If convicted, the Sky High trio faces between six months to a year in jail and fines. They will appear in court next month for a pre-trial hearing.
Orange County and Santa Ana continues to be a battleground for medical cannabis patients, their caregivers and providers. While medical marijuana activity is popular and robust in the relatively conservative Orange County, local lawmakers have failed to effectively regulate any aspects of the legal trade, experts say. Unlicensed delivery services, retail dispensaries and raids on them are common.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana-Munching Cops Fired After Being Caught On Tape
Author: David Downs
Contact: SFGate
Photo Credit: OC Weekly
Website: SFGate
