Category Archives: SAPD

Santa Ana Mayor Vince Sarmiento and Santa Ana City Councilman Johnathan Ryan Hernandez have spent the last few weeks calling the members of the Anaheim Police Department that shot and killed Hernandez’ cousin, Brandon Lopez, a murderer. What are they going to say now that the Anaheim Police Department has issued a video explaining who Lopez was and what happened when he was shot?

Turns out Lopez had stolen a Dodge Charger and refused to give it back. But he also had no less than three warrants for his arrest for over $200K! The warrants were for a serious of six armed robberies; domestic violence and driving on a suspended license.

The police investigating the vehicle theft found out it was equipped with GPS and so they were able to track Lopez to Santa Ana. Based on the fact that he was a suspect wanted for multiple felonies and was inolved in a vehicle theft the investigator shared this info with their colleagues and with the SAPD. They then found out that Lopez had a prior conviction for resisting arrest.

Lopez was spotted by a police helicopter and ground units were then directed to his location. He was in the Charger and the car was on the move.

The police officers next tracked Lopez to the City of Tustin and engaged in a police pursuit as, of course, he refused to pull over. You can clearly see him in the video driving like a maniac.

Lopez led police on a pursuit for nearly 35 minutes through multiple jurisdictions in Tustin, Irvine and Santa Ana. He drove with a complete disregard for the rules of the road and the public. He sped, ran red lights and stop signs and even drove on the wrong side of the road! He was even involved in a traffic collision and of course he sped off and the pursuit continued.

The pursuit at one point had to be stopped as Lopez was endangering too many people but it picked up again, as he was being tracked by a helicopter, in Santa Ana.

The police officers were advised that Lopez had used a firearm in the past in the commission of armed robberies.

Keep in mind the fact that the only information the officers had about Lopez was his incredibly long criminal record.

Lopez finally screwed up and ended up on a dirt road in a construction zone heading west. He then got stuck on westbound Santa Ana at Bristol. He got stuck on the tracks being installed for the OC Streetcar.

Lopez refused to exit the car and at that point Santa Ana police officers got involved, utilizing an armored vehicle to block the path of the Dodge Charger.

For over three hours Lopez sat in the stolen Charger as SAPD negotiators tried to convince him to exit the vehicle.

At 6:09 p.m. an SAPD police officer in the armored vehicle reported that he saw Lopez holding a gun in his right hand. He was observed smoking an unknown substance wrapped in a foil, moving around the vehicle and writing something on a piece of paper.

Officers then observed Lopez smoking something through a straw.

Anaheim SWAT was then dispatched to the scene. The officers at the scene continued to try to negotiate Lopez’ surrender as they waited for the SWAT team.

SAPD officers then observed Lopez covering something up in his waistband and taking off his shirts.

At 7:09 p.m. SAPD police officers reported Lopez was still in the car and he was smoking more narcotics.

Lopez then covered the front windshield with the Charger’s floor mats to prevent the officers from being able to look into the vehicle from their armored vehicle.

The decision was then made that the SAPD would transfer tactical command to the Anaheim Police Officers. That transfer occurred at 9:07 p.m.

Lopez continued to refuse to cooperate with the police.

Tactical Anaheim police officers continued to try to negotiate with Lopez. At the same time Anaheim SWAT officers began to work on a plan to introduce a chemical agent into the Charger to prompt Lopez to exit the vehicle.

Anaheim SWAT officers then prepared to engage with a K9 dog and shields ready to go.

At 9:21 they asked the SAPD police officer in the armored vehicle to try one more time to convince Lopez, via an announcement, to exit the Charger.

At 9:34 p.m. a Lopez family member told the police that he had spoken with Lopez and had been told that Lopez had decided to commit suicide by cop.

By 9:52 pm the Anaheim SWAT team started to prepare their gas plan. They planned to first initiate a flashbang and then introduce the gas.

The Anaheim police officers were wearing cameras when they approached the Charger.

After nearly four hours of non-compliance from Lopez the SWAT team was ready to end the standoff. They deployed the flashbang at 10 p.m. and introduced a chemical gas into the Charger.

Lopez finally emerged from the vehicle, with a black object in his right hand. At that time an officer-involved shooting occured.

As Lopez ran out of the vehicle he was partially obscured by traffic barricades that were there due to the construction project. Shouts of “gun, gun” were heard from the officers and they responded by shooting Lopez several times.

The body camera footage, when slowed down, clearly shows a black object in Lopez’ hand.

Video footage shot by a reporter also showed that Lopez came out of the Charger with something black in his hand.

Lopez ended up face down with his arms pinned under his body. The officers were concerned he had a weapon that they could not see. They deployed a 40 mm less lethal projectile at that time. When he did not respond the officers approached and handcuffed him. They then began to render medical aid.

Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene. The officers searched him and the Charger and did not locate a gun.

The black object Lopez was holding turned out to be a black pouch with an empty water bottle. Officers did find a note, a cell phone, drug paraphernalia and a knife, in the Charger.

The incident is being investigated by the Anaheim and Santa Ana Police Departments, by the OCDA and by the State of California.

It is clear that Lopez was not in fact murdered by the police officers. He was a dangerous drug abusing felon who endangered the public and exited this world the way he wanted to.

Shame on Mayor Sarmiento and Council Member Hernandez for calling the Anaheim police officers murderers when they know full well the facts of the case and we all now know the extent that the SAPD was involved in the incident. They both should apologize to the Anaheim Police Department.

By the way, we found out today that Sarmiento is an Of Counsel to his sister Vicky’s law firm, as reported on his Form 700 Financial Disclosure report. Vicky is married to another lawyer who has been hired by the Lopez family, ostensibly to sue all parties involved.