Florentino Lopez said he woke up from a nap on Oct. 1, showered and stepped outside his home to smoke marijuana after working at his dad’s landscaping job before Santa Ana police officers called him over, leading to his violent arrest.
Lopez, a 28-year-old Santa Ana resident on probation in part for carrying a loaded firearm, said the police car drove by the house, then reversed and he recognized one of the officers calling him over as Luis Casillas – an officer who Lopez said often drives by and jokes with him – and complied with the request.
That’s when, Lopez said, the officers came out of the car and a verbal argument kicked off before they bent him over against the hood of the car as his sister and later other family members stepped out of the house and started to record.
What happened next was caught on camera – one of the officers threw Lopez from the car onto the street and began to punch him repeatedly in the head before the second officer joined in and held Lopez’s legs down until more officers showed up – ostensibly to help restrain him.
“I still think it was a dream. It happened so quick,” Lopez said in an interview outside his home Thursday evening, recounting his Oct. 1 arrest. “I should have just stayed sleeping, man.”
“I was just shocked. I didn’t feel shit. I was numbed,” he continued. “I trip out still to this today – getting kneed, getting all that.”
Lopez said he was surprised by the officers’ behavior because he knew Casillas and had interacted with him several times and said they were respectful with each other, adding it seemed like the officers were out looking to mess with someone.
Videos filmed of the arrest by his family would go viral on Instagram in the days after, sparking calls for accountability in a town where local officials often face scrutiny and concerns over police using excessive force but rarely have public discussions about police accountability.
Two weeks after his violent arrest, Lopez shared his account of what happened in a joint interview with The Santanero and Voice of OC.
Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez and police spokeswoman Natalie Garcia did not respond to emailed questions Friday morning.
Rodriguez has previously said the department is reviewing the incident.
John Kachirisky, president of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, deferred questions about the officers, the arrest and Lopez’s remarks to the police department or stated the union had no opinion in response to them.
“Our concern is for our members to get a fair investigation,” he said in a Friday email statement in response to several questions.
Florentino Lopez
Lopez said after he was arrested they put a face mask on him, strapped him up like a “crazy person” and that he wasn’t allowed to make a phone call, adding he denied medical attention but he had bruises all over him and his head was busted open.
He was initially charged with resisting arrest, smoking marijuana near a school, day care or youth center and unlawfully blocking the roadway.
“For them even arresting me, in general, for me not doing anything,” Lopez said, adding that police officers were “going to do anything they can, they’re going to fucking say I did something. I was scared.”
This week, OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer dropped the criminal charges against Lopez – a move Lopez said was intended to keep him and his lawyer from reviewing the body-worn camera footage.
After publication of this article, District Attorney Spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said the OC Probation Department is no longer seeking a probation violation against Lopez.
Lopez is on probation for carrying an unregistered loaded firearm, hit-and-run and reckless driving.
“Yes, I’m on probation,” he said. “But I’m paying my bills. I’m paying my rent. I’m going to my probation meetings. I’m doing everything that’s required.”
Lopez was born and raised in Santa Ana and started boxing at the age of 13 at the Garden Grove Boxing Gym under the tutelage of his coach who he called “Mr. Knockout.”
“My parents, they saw that I had a short temper. They knew what environment it was. Thanks to them, their sacrifices, their hard work, they were able to put me in boxing for the amount of time they did,” he said. “They lacked the funds, but there’s good people out there, and the coach actually adopted some type of feeling for me and when I stopped going he came and he bought my gloves. He kept me going until he died.”
He also worked as a mechanic technician working on tow trucks, but lost his job after he pleaded guilty to carrying the gun and reckless driving felonies.
Officials Respond; Who Are The Officers Involved?
Days after the video of Lopez’s arrest went viral, Santa Ana City Council members – including ones backed by the police union – unanimously voted to launch an outside investigation into the police officers that beat Lopez – a move that received pushback from police unions leaders last week.
Kachirisky said he hopes the investigation will be fair.
“Like any employee facing a workplace investigation, they have a right to a fair due process that truly seeks to get the facts of the case. This is a hallmark ideal of the Labor Movement,” he said in his Friday response.
“Ultimately having a fair investigation is our number one concern and what we want to see, but when some of the politicians who will oversee it already have their mind made up, it brings up concerns that it will be one sided.”
City Spokesman Paul Eakins did not respond to questions Thursday night on who would be conducting the investigation and how much it would cost.
Officials also voted to release the names of the officers involved and the body-worn camera footage of the arrest only if it is legally determined that Lopez sustained “great bodily injury” from the officers’ beating.
Lopez said the body-worn camera footage is damning for the officers.
“The body cams are going to show everything,” he said. “At this point, they’re caught.”
“They’re going to see I cooperated,” Lopez added.
Kachirisky said the union is committed to transparency when asked if the body-worn camera footage should be released.
“We remain committed to transparency and accountability while ensuring that all decisions are consistent with established practices, applicable laws and policies and the due process rights of all parties involved,” reads his Friday statement.
Lopez’s criminal complaint lists an Officer Casillas and an Officer Benavides, but does not list their first names.
While the city has not confirmed the names of the officers, Lopez and his attorney John Kremer have identified them as Officers Luis Casillas and Officer Marco Benavides – both of which have faced scrutiny over other use of force incidents.
Casillas was investigated and cleared by the state’s department of justice for the killing of Noe Rodriguez, who was carrying a toy gun, in December 2024 – an incident that sparked calls for police accountability in the city.
He also was investigated by the OC District Attorney’s office and cleared for the killing of Henry Gonzalez, Jr. in January 2025 – a 55-year old man armed who held his mother at knifepoint.
Meanwhile, The OC Register recently reported Benavides was one of several officers involved in the beating of a 15-year-old armed robbery suspect last year in June.
Kachirisky responded the union had no opinion when asked if there were concerns about Casillas and Benavides previous use of force incidents.
“We have no opinion on this, our concern is for our members to get a fair investigation,” he said.
Lopez said while he knew of Casillas, he had not known about the officer’s prior use of force incidents until after his own Oct. 1 arrest.
He also said he doesn’t have faith in the city’s investigation into his arrest.
“Honestly, I’m thinking the worst. I’m thinking they’re going to get away,” Lopez said, pointing in part to the officers’ previous incidents. “I hope I’m wrong.”
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org.
