Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jul 2015
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Authors: Joseph Pimentel and Chris Haire

UNEDITED VIDEO RELEASED OF OFFICERS AT POT SHOP RAID

An attorney representing a Santa Ana medical marijuana dispensary 
released the full, unedited video of a recent raid by police that 
captures Santa Ana officers destroying property and eating medical marijuana.

At a Los Angeles news conference Friday, attorney Matthew Pappas, who 
represents Sky High Holistic, released to the media the hours-long 
video from the May 26 raid.

"In some parts of the video, you can clearly see and hear officers 
saying they are getting light-headed after eating the edibles," Pappas said.

Santa Ana police Chief Carlos Rojas said the three officers involved 
in the raid are on administrative leave while the department 
investigates the allegations.

"We are very concerned about the conduct of the officers," he said. 
"The whole, unedited video will help better put the officers' actions 
into context."

If the department finds the officers guilty, Rojas said, their 
punishment could range from a "supervisory reprimand" to being fired.

Pappas said the new videos bolsters the claims he made in a lawsuit 
he filed last month that accuses Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido of 
receiving financial benefits from a medical marijuana dispensary and 
police officers of excessive use of force and destroying property, 
among other things.

The mayor called the allegations "unequivocally and categorically false."

The seven-minute edited video, which went viral upon its release in 
June, shows officers breaking through Sky High's front door with guns 
drawn. The officers made demeaning remarks about a disabled woman 
with an amputated leg in a wheelchair, before destroying the store's 
surveillance cameras. They were also seen playing darts and eating 
"edible" or consumable marijuana. The video came from other hidden 
cameras in the store.

The dispensary was operating illegally, the police chief said, and 
the officers had a search warrant to enter the shop.

Rojas also said he has tried to contact Pappas about getting the 
unedited video but has yet to hear back.

Pappas confirmed that Santa Ana's internal affairs - as well as the 
Orange County District Attorney's Office, which is undergoing a 
criminal investigation - have contacted him about the videos.

"We're negotiating right now," Pappas said.

Pappas said Brea attorney Anthony Curiale plans to file another 
lawsuit against Santa Ana on Monday.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom