Surveillance video catches several Santa Ana cops beating up a suspect

They say that police often reflect who their leaders are and if that is true then we need to start pondering what is going on at the Santa Ana Police Department. Surveillance video caught three Santa Ana police officers beating the heck out of a meth addict and suspected burglar, who according to witnesses was on the ground and not resisting at the time.

Olivia Arzate, the suspect’s mother, said her son’s face was all scratched and full of bruises, as were his hands, legs and back as a result of the beating, according to KTLA.

Santa Ana police officials allege that Arzate’s 27-year-old son, Edgar Vargas Arzate, fled from officers during a burglary call on June 20, jumping over backyard fences and climbing on roofs, according to the O.C. Register.

The cops used their fists, a baton and according to a witness a taser to beat Arzate to a pulp.

This sort of thing didn’t happen under former SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters.  It calls into doubt the leadership of his replacement, Carlos Rojas.  Remember that the City Council fired Walters after he saved our city from bankruptcy, while he was our acting City Manager.  They eventually hired his temporary replacement, Rojas, but didn’t conduct a real search for a new Chief.  They just handed the job to Rojas, perhaps because they wanted to hire a Latino police chief.

Several other police departments have reduced the frequency of such incidents by putting video cameras on all their cops.  This really needs to happen in Santa Ana too.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • According to witnesses? Who? The homeboys from the barrio? And his mother should be ashamed and apologizing to the people he burglarized for his 27 year old, drug-using, unemployed, parasite that still lives at home. The video doesn't show the scumbags actions, just above him. He has not been searched for weapons yet. And don't blame Chief Rojas. 20 years ago this guy would be going to the E.R. Thinking twice about doing it again. Did you check his criminal background? I guess that doesnt matter because is not news. The media will change law enforcement forever. When the cops use even minimal force, you interview the scum witnesses only who lie about wht they saw. These people don't care about telling the truth, just about going against government. The same government that feeds them and allow them to be here illegally. How sad.

  • I think the video shows clearly what goes on a lot more than people want to admit. The clip said 3 cops hitting him. The officers that are standing there watching are just as guilty and i think everyone of them should be prosecuted!!!!!

  • The natural response of trying to protect yourself from being beaten, now becomes "resisting arrest"?

    Try getting kneed in the back and punched in the head six times and not to cover up!

  • The natural response of trying to protect yourself from being beaten, now becomes "resisting arrest"?
    Try getting kneed in the back and punched in the head six times and not to cover up!
    That is the way the police treat it. Trying to shield yourself from blows is resisting arrest and they'll add it to whatever other charges they can come up with.

  • "This sort of thing didn’t happen under former SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters"

    Not true. At 19 I was given a pretty bad beating by 3-4 police officers for simply asking respectfully, yes RESPECTFULLY, if they had a warrant for entering inside my friends home that was throwing a birthday party. After the beating I was arrested and charged with "obstruction of justice", assault and battery to an officer" and "resisting arrest". All while Walters was chief.

    I doubt Chief Rojas has anything to do with this, these dirty pigs have been doing this for a long time.

    • I'm sorry that happened to you but Rojas is the Chief now so he is responsible for what his men do. That's how it works when you're in charge.

Share
Published by
Art Pedroza

Recent Posts

Tilly’s Life Center raised over $500K to support youth programs, at their annual O.C. gala

Tilly’s Life Center’s (TLC) recently raised over half a million dollars to support their youth…

4 hours ago

A small plan crashed near the Fullerton Airport this afternoon

On November 25, 2024, at approximately 1:46 PM, Fullerton Fire and Police personnel responded to…

4 hours ago

Firefighters had to extricate victims from two car crashes in Garden Grove last Friday

OCFA fire crews responded to two significant vehicle accidents in Garden Grove last Friday, requiring…

9 hours ago

An SUV was totally wrecked after hitting two light poles and a tree in Newport Beach

On November 24th, 2024, at approximately 1:00 a.m. Newport Beach Fire Department units NE63, NT63,…

12 hours ago

The SAPD arrested a man suspected in an armed robbery at a gas station

‼️UPDATE‼️ Earlier today, our robbery detectives arrested November 20, 2024, #WantedWednesday suspect Izaya Cuellar (35)…

1 day ago

Driver arrested for destroying the lawn of a Costa Mesa park while doing donuts with his vehicle

Late Friday night, police officers responded to Balearic Park regarding a vehicle doing “donuts” on…

1 day ago

This website uses cookies.