The SAPD released another video of their recent Quality of Life Team (QOLT) operation which resulted in 75 arrests of transients, including 66 misdemeanors and 9 felonies.
This project was a collaboration between Santa Ana Public Works, City Net, and other partner agencies.
In the video you can see the police officers involved in the transient sweep as they gather to discuss the operation and then roll out. The video then depicts the officers as they gather up the transients, handcuff them and place them in vans. The officers appeared to target transients in tents along train tracks and several that were sleeping in front of commercial businesses. The operation appears to have been conducted very early in the morning as you could see the officers rousting transients who were sleeping.
The transients who were arrested appeared to be mostly people of color.
The video closes with the officers doing a debrief after the operation and you can see several of them on computers – likely having to type up their arrest reports.
Governor Gavin Newsom is not explicitly asking cities to arrest more transients, but his recent policies and directives are putting strong pressure on local governments to dismantle homeless encampments and enforce public space regulations more aggressively.
Newsom launched the State Action for Facilitation on Encampments (SAFE) Task Force, which coordinates state agencies to help cities clear homeless encampments from state rights-of-way in California’s ten largest cities. The goal is to restore public spaces while connecting unhoused individuals to shelter, health care, and substance use services.
The SAFE Task Force, established by Governor Gavin Newsom, aims to address the homelessness crisis in California by prioritizing and removing encampments on state rights-of-way in the state’s ten largest cities. The task force coordinates efforts across multiple state agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, and health and housing departments, to dismantle encampments and provide shelter and services to individuals experiencing homelessness. The initiative follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted state and local governments more authority to clear encampments, and it is part of a broader strategy to combat the national homelessness and housing crises.
Based on the recent sweep by Santa Ana PD that resulted in 75 arrests (66 misdemeanors and 9 felonies), here’s a summary of the penalties these individuals may face under California law:
Misdemeanor Charges (66 arrests)
Common misdemeanor offenses include:
- Public intoxication (PC 647(f))
- Driving under the influence (DUI – VC 23152(a)/(b))
- Resisting arrest or obstructing officers (PC 148)
Typical penalties for misdemeanors:
- Up to 1 year in county jail
- Fines up to $1,000–$2,000
- Probation, community service, or mandatory classes (e.g., DUI education)
- Possible license suspension (for DUI-related offenses)
Felony Charges (9 arrests)
Felony offenses reported include:
- Assault with a deadly weapon (PC 245(a)(1))
- Credit card fraud and burglary (PC 459, PC 484e–g)
- Possession of stolen property for resale (PC 496.5)
Typical penalties for felonies:
- 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail (depending on severity and prior record)
- Fines up to $10,000
- Formal probation or parole
- Possible strike under California’s Three Strikes Law (for violent felonies)
Special Cases
- Assaulting a police officer during an arrest is a misdemeanor, but if physical contact occurs, it may be charged as battery on a peace officer, which can be a felony. Penalties range from 1 year in jail to multiple years, depending on injury and intent.
I 100% support what they’re doing here. But the police making a video of them doing it to a soundtrack of crappy electronic music is beyond tacky. We need police to keep our streets clean and safe, not make camp videos of them trying to look cool doing it.