Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2016
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: James Queally

3 OFFICERS CHARGED WITH THEFT OF SNACKS

Three Santa Ana police officers were charged with stealing protein 
bars and cookies from a medical marijuana dispensary during a 2015 
raid, prosecutors said Monday.

Brandon Matthew Sontag, 31, Nicole Lynn Quijas, 37, and Jorge Arroyo, 
32, were each charged with one misdemeanor count of theft for their 
roles in the May 2015 search at Sky High Holistic on 17th Street in 
Santa Ana, according to a statement by the Orange County district 
attorney's office.

Sontag was also charged with vandalism in connection with the 
smashing of security cameras inside the facility, prosecutors said.

The dispensary, which was under investigation for possibly operating 
without a license, filed a federal lawsuit accusing the officers of 
using excessive force during the raid. A video showed officers 
apparently entering the dispensary, playing darts and eating snack 
food that belonged to the staff.

Calls to the Santa Ana Police Department seeking comment were not 
immediately returned.

Prosecutors said the officers did not eat any edible marijuana items 
during the raid, though they did take a number of snacks that 
belonged to the staff, including Detour Simple protein bars and Mrs. 
Thinster's cookies.

Sontag is accused of destroying or damaging at least five 
surveillance cameras by smashing them into a display case or cash 
register, prosecutors said.

The officers' actions were recorded by four hidden surveillance 
cameras that were not discovered during the raid.
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