Protester Hurt During Confrontation with Federal Agent in Santa Ana
Protester Injured During Demonstration in Santa Ana
A man sustained serious injuries during a demonstration in Santa Ana last week, which was held in support of Renee Good, a Minnesota woman fatally shot by an immigration agent. Video footage from the protest shows a chaotic scene, capturing the moment when the injured man was dragged into the federal building by an agent, his face visibly bloodied.
The demonstration took place last Friday evening after 8 p.m., following the departure of most peaceful protesters. However, violent clashes erupted between remaining protesters and authorities later that night. A video clip recorded at the scene recorded what appeared to be the sound of less-lethal rounds being fired as federal agents advanced on a group gathered near the building’s steps.
In the same footage, a man with a megaphone was seen struggling briefly as more less-lethal shots rang out. Moments later, another man was seen kneeling face down on the ground, subsequently being pulled into the building by federal agents.
According to friends of the injured man, identified only as "K," he was hospitalized and unable to provide an account of the incident himself. "I heard a bang, and suddenly I was on my knees. It hadn’t dawned on me what had happened; everything was a blur,” he stated in a message read by his friend.
Rue el Amar, a close associate of K, reported that he suffered a severe eye injury which requires surgery and may result in permanent vision loss.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that two officers were injured during the protest, and two individuals were arrested on charges of assault on a federal officer and disorderly conduct. When questioned about K’s condition, the DHS noted that one of the arrested individuals was treated at a hospital for a cut and was released the same night.
In response to the incident, Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento indicated that local officials will seek further information, although he acknowledged that communication between federal and local agencies appears to have diminished. "Federal agencies right now have little to no discussion with our local agencies. That is very rare, something unlike what we’ve seen. We’ve always worked in tandem with one another so information is readily available," Sarmiento said.
The Santa Ana Police Department stated that it was not involved in the incident.
