One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Santa Ana cops charged with stealing snacks during pot shop raid
A screenshot of the Voice of OC's video of the police raid at Sky High Holistic pot shop on May, 26 2015.
Orange County prosecutors on Monday charged three Santa Ana police officers with stealing from and vandalizing a medical marijuana dispensary during a raid last year.
Brandon Sontag, Nicole Quijas and Jorge Arroyo are all charged with stealing granola bars and cookies from Sky High Holistic's break room, said Roxi Fyad, a district attorney spokeswoman. Sontag is also charged with vandalizing five of the store's surveillance cameras, according to a press release.
"They were just cookies and protein bars that are sold at any store,” Fyad told KPCC.
The police raid occurred on May 26 under a search warrant alleging that the shop did not have the proper permits to sell medical marijuana.
At the time, Sky High Holistic filed a lawsuit saying that the police used excessive force and caused more than $100,000 worth of damage. The Voice of OC released a video of the raid, edited by the shop's attorneys.
(WARNING: The video includes language that may be offensive to some.)
Sponsored message
There was a question about whether the officers ate or took marijuana edibles, but Fyad said there was insufficient or no evidence to prove they had. She said the charges were brought after the district attorney's office reviewed more than 16 hours of unedited video surveillance.
"We filed what we felt we could prove beyond a reasonable doubt," Fyad said.
If convicted, Quijas and Arroyo face up to six months in jail and a fine of $1,000. Sontag faces six months to a year in jail and a fine of $2,000, Fyad said.
The officers are set to be arraigned on April 11 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
KPCC has reached out to the Santa Ana Police Department for comment.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
