The Orange County District Attorney's office has dropped criminal charges against Florentino Lopez, the man seen being punched repeatedly by Santa Ana police officers in a viral video of his October 1 arrest. Lopez had been charged with resisting arrest, marijuana possession near a youth facility and blocking a roadway. A DA spokeswoman said that, "based on the totality of the evidence," including body-camera footage, pursuing a probation violation was "the most appropriate sanction"; a probation hearing is set for December. The Santa Ana City Council has voted unanimously for an outside investigation of the officers, and the DA says it has not yet decided on their conduct. Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said "a verbal act does not warrant a physical beating," while police union leaders have pushed back against the council's probe.
The Anaheim City Council unanimously approved a new contract for the city's police union on its consent calendar Tuesday, with no public discussion. The deal gives officers about a 17% raise over three years — 6% retroactive to June 2026, 4% next summer and 6% in 2028 — at a cost of roughly $45 million, and runs through June 2029. The city expects about $120 million to be freed up next year when its 1997 Disneyland Resort expansion bonds are paid off, though officials had already planned to use half of that to cover this year's deficit. A city spokesman said costs would be covered by "available resources," including hotel-stay revenue.
Prosecutors announced Thursday that the case against Laura Lee Yourex, 64, of Costa Mesa, has been dismissed after she completed the terms of her plea. Yourex registered her dog, Maya Jean, to vote in 2020 and mailed in ballots in the dog's name for the 2021 recall election (counted) and the 2022 primary (rejected). She pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor and paid $1,500 for four billboards on the 55 and 22 freeways warning against voter fraud, which will run through the November 3 general election and list the DA's election-fraud hotline.
The Teamsters strike by about 400 Orange County workers over stalled labor talks is now affecting services in south county: the Prima Deshecha Landfill has closed to the public, and animal shelter kennel staff are among those on the picket lines.
① 산타애나 폭행 체포 남성 기소 취하: 10월 1일 경찰에게 여러 차례 주먹으로 맞는 영상이 퍼진 플로렌티노 로페스에 대해 OC 검찰이 공무집행 방해 등 형사 기소를 취하하고 보호관찰 위반으로만 다루기로 했습니다. 산타애나 시의회는 해당 경관들에 대한 외부 조사를 만장일치로 결정했습니다.
② 애너하임 경찰 4,500만 달러 임금 인상: 애너하임 시의회가 3년간 약 17% 인상하는 경찰 노조 계약을 토론 없이 만장일치로 승인했습니다. 내년 디즈니랜드 확장 채권 상환이 끝나면 약 1억 2천만 달러의 재원이 생길 예정입니다.
③ '반려견 유권자 등록' 사건 종결: 반려견을 유권자로 등록하고 두 차례 대리 투표한 코스타메사 주민(64)이 경범죄 유죄를 인정하고 부정선거 경고 광고판 4개 비용을 부담한 뒤 사건이 종결됐습니다. 광고판은 11월 3일 선거까지 55번·22번 프리웨이에 걸립니다.
④ 카운티 파업 여파: 카운티 직원 약 400명의 파업으로 프리마 데셰차 매립지가 일반인에게 문을 닫았고, 동물보호소 직원들도 파업에 참여하고 있습니다.
Sources: Voice of OC · KTLA · MyNewsLA · Orange County District Attorney · Patch
