A coalition of attorneys held a news conference Friday to discuss additional video of alleged inappropriate behavior by Santa Ana police officers during pot raids in Santa Ana in April and May. Officials also announced details about a multimillion dollar claim against the state for damages on behalf of plaintiffs "attacked" during the raids.
Attorneys previously filed lawsuits in June against the City of Santa Ana, which also named Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, claiming the city accepted bribes in exchange for guaranteeing licenses to distribute marijuana. The lawsuit also alleged the city solicited $25,000 payments and gifts from marijuana dispensaries which would guarantee businesses would be granted a license in a lottery system. It also claims police were used to shut down operations that did not pay up.
The joint news conference comes after the raid of pot shop Sky High Holistic, which was caught on surveillance video that appeared to show questionable behavior by 10 officers on May 27.
At one point, Marla James, who is wheelchair bound with an amputated leg, was escorted out of the shop by a female officer. The same officer is later heard on the profanity-laced edited video saying she wanted to kick her in the "nub."
At least two of the officers wore ski masks and several of them dismantled surveillance videos and a DVR in the store. After most of the cameras were taken down, an officer played darts while others joked around and at least one allegedly ate marijuana-laced edible products from the shop.
Santa Ana Police Department said all of the officers would be interviewed as part of an internal investigation.
