Santa Ana pursues outside inquiry as man describes violent arrest

Santa Ana resident Florentino Lopez described officers throwing him to the street and repeatedly punching his head during his Oct. 1 arrest, as the City Council voted unanimously to pursue an outside investigation, according to Voice of OC. Orange County prosecutors dropped the initial criminal charges this week but continued pursuing a probation violation.

The case puts scrutiny on Santa Ana police conduct and the conditions for releasing body-camera footage. City officials made disclosure of the officers’ names and recordings contingent on a legal determination that Lopez sustained great bodily injury, Voice of OC reported.

Lopez, 28, spoke with The Santanero and Voice of OC on Thursday, about two weeks after his arrest. He said he had stepped outside his home to smoke marijuana and complied when an officer he recognized as Luis Casillas called him over.

A verbal argument followed, and officers bent him over the hood of a patrol car, Lopez said. According to Voice of OC’s description of footage recorded by family members, an officer then threw him onto the street and repeatedly punched his head while another held his legs. More officers subsequently arrived. The videos spread widely on Instagram.

The initial charges included resisting arrest, smoking marijuana near a school, day care or youth center and unlawfully blocking the roadway. District Attorney Todd Spitzer dropped those charges this week while pursuing a probation violation, Voice of OC reported. Lopez was already on probation for carrying an unregistered loaded firearm, hit-and-run and reckless driving.

Police Chief Robert Rodriguez previously said the department was reviewing the incident. The City Council subsequently voted unanimously for an outside investigation, but its decision on releasing names and body-camera footage depended on the legal determination of Lopez’s injuries.

The criminal complaint identifies Officers Casillas and Benavides by surname only, according to Voice of OC. The city had not confirmed the full names provided by Lopez and his attorney. John Kachirisky, president of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, said the union’s priorities were a fair investigation and due process for its members.

Lopez said he expected body-camera footage to show what happened, but expressed doubts about the city’s investigation, according to Voice of OC. The city’s release decision remained tied to the legal assessment of his injuries.