SANTA ANA, Calif. – Several officers with the Santa Ana Police Department are being investigated after a video emerged showing an officer allegedly eating a pot-laced edible during a raid at a medical marijuana dispensary.
The officers raided the Sky High Holistic on May 26. Footage from the marijuana dispensary’s video surveillance cameras, which was released by attorney Matthew Pappas, shows police officers entering the facility and forcing patrons to the ground during the raid, Los Angeles Times reports.
Officers can also be seen dismantling security cameras, eating and playing darts. At one point, an officer is shown examining what appears to be an edible. The officer puts it into his mouth and then flashes a thumbs-up gesture.
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Marla James, the dispensary’s manager, an amputee who uses a wheelchair, says police victimized and intimidated her.
The video shows a female officer saying, “I was about to kick her in her [expletive] nub.”
Santa Ana police say the surveillance footage was heavily edited, so it’s unclear what actually happened in the dispensary.
Department officials said it was possible that officers were removing the cameras as part of the collection of evidence in connection with a search warrant for the dispensary, OC Register reports.
So far, none of the officers involved in the raid have been placed on administrative leave.
The internal affairs investigation could take several weeks. Part of the investigation will involve reviewing the video footage and interviewing the officers and those present at the dispensary when the raid took place.
A final report will be delivered to Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas will review the final report and determine if the officers violated department policies.
