Shocking video has emerged of a UC Berkeley campus officer citing a hot dog vendor for operating without a permit and removing the cash from his wallet.
The clip, shot by alumnus Martin Flores on Saturday afternoon, showed Officer Sean Aranas pulling the money from the vendor’s wallet and folding it.
Even as the vendor, identified as Juan, objects, it is to no avail, as Aranas begins writing a citation.
Shocking video has emerged of UC Berkeley campus officer Sean Aranas citing a hot dog vendor, identified as Juan, for operating without a permit and removing the cash from his wallet (left and right). The clip was shot by alumnus Martin Flores on Saturday afternoon
Flores said he was buying a hot dog from the cart for his kids after a football game when the officer approached. After asking for Juan’s ID, Aranas took the wallet from the vendor’s hands and took out the bills, folding them in his hands (left and right)
Flores told the Los Angeles Times he was buying a hot dog from the cart for his kids after a football game when the officer approached.
Aranas then allegedly asked for Juan’s ID. As the vendor looked through his wallet, the officer removed it from his hands.
‘That’s when I thought something was not right,’ said Flores, who pulled out his phone to record the incident.
Flores can be heard saying ‘That’s not right’ repeatedly as Aranas pulls bills from the man’s wallet.
Police told KTVU that the vendor’s money was seized as evidence
He then asks the officer why he’s taking the vendor’s ‘hard earned money’ and notes that people are drinking in public not far away, and that officers should be targeting them instead.
‘Yeah, well he doesn’t have a permit. He doesn’t have a permit,’ Aranas is seen responding. ‘Yep, this is law and order in action…Thank you for your support.’
Flores says he doesn’t think Aranas was wrong in issuing a citation for the vendor’s lack of permit but rather that the officer’s enforcement appeared to be selective.
‘If he’s really about law and order there’s really so many other things he could’ve stopped,’ Flores said.
‘I totally recognize that people have to have permits. But this wasn’t about that. This was about identifying one vendor. If you want law and order, be law and order across the board.’
Flores then asks Aranas why he’s taking the vendor’s ‘hard earned money’ and notes that people are drinking in public not far away, and that officers should be targeting them instead (left and right). Police said the cash was seized as evidence
Flores has launched a GoFundMe effort for Juan to cover his legal expenses and personal losses. So far, more than $42,000 from an initial $10,000 goal
A petition to have the officer fired had received more than 20,000 signatures as of Monday evening.
Flores has launched a GoFundMe account for Juan to cover his legal expenses and personal losses. So far, more than $42,000 has been raised from an initial $10,000 goal.
‘We are aware of the incident,’ UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof told Berkeleyside on Sunday. ‘The officer was tasked with enforcing violations related to vending without a permit on campus. UCPD is looking into the matter.’