Tag / Los Angeles

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: When Security Guards Play Cop — The Dangerous Consequences and Who’s Responsible

Unidentified Security making an arrest of an individual for Allegedly Being Undocumented.

A disturbing video has surfaced showing a California security guard acting like a law enforcement officer, detaining an undocumented man outside a Home Depot and claiming he would call immigration authorities. In the footage, the man is held against his will while the so-called “guard” makes false claims of authority, threatening deportation and treating the individual like a criminal suspect — despite having no legal right to make such an arrest.

This isn’t just a case of overstepping — it’s a potential crime.

A Crime in Plain Sight

Under California law, kidnapping is defined as moving a person a substantial distance without their consent, through force or fear (Penal Code § 207). Even if the guard believed he was acting within his rights, intent doesn’t erase the act — and detaining someone without legal authority can constitute kidnapping.

Additionally, impersonating a peace officer is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $10,000 (Penal Code § 538d). If this individual falsely claimed authority, flashed a badge, or otherwise led the detainee to believe he was a legitimate law enforcement officer, he may have committed multiple crimes.

And yet, no charges have been filed. The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), which regulates private security guards in California, has reportedly not been notified. No public statement has come from either the security company involved or from Home Depot, which employs the firm under contract.

Security Guard overstepping his Authority and Kidnapping this individual for Allegedly being undocumented.

Who Is Liable?

The question now becomes: Who is responsible for this abuse?

1. The Security Guard

At the very least, the individual guard should be investigated for:

  • Kidnapping
  • False imprisonment
  • Impersonation of an officer
  • Unauthorized arrest

If proven guilty, the consequences should include immediate revocation of his guard card by BSIS, criminal prosecution, and possible civil liability.

2. The Security Company

Security firms are legally responsible for the actions of their employees when those actions occur during the scope of employment. If this guard was on duty at a location contracted by the company (such as the Home Depot in question), then the company could be liable for:

  • Negligent hiring or training
  • Failure to supervise
  • Allowing unlawful conduct by its agents

Companies must ensure that their employees understand the limits of their authority — especially when it comes to detaining individuals suspected of immigration violations. Private security personnel do not have the power to arrest someone solely for being undocumented.

3. Home Depot

While not a law enforcement agency itself, Home Depot contracts with private security firms to provide services. While they may not be directly liable unless they encouraged or authorized illegal behavior, they still have a moral obligation to distance themselves from misconduct and demand accountability from their contractors.

They also have a responsibility to the public to ensure that the people patrolling their premises are trained, licensed, and operating within the law.

Home Depot Security Enforcement “Officer”

Where Is BSIS?

The fact that BSIS has not been alerted is deeply troubling. As the state agency charged with overseeing private security operations, BSIS must act swiftly when allegations of misconduct arise. That includes investigating incidents like this, suspending or revoking licenses where appropriate, and referring cases to local prosecutors when criminal activity is evident.

If BSIS fails to act, it sends a message that impersonating officers and illegally detaining people won’t carry consequences — a dangerous precedent in a state that prides itself on protecting civil liberties.

A Call for Justice

We cannot allow private security guards to play sheriff, especially when doing so puts vulnerable communities at risk. This incident is not isolated — similar stories have emerged across the country, often targeting immigrants who may not know their rights or fear retaliation if they speak out.

Local law enforcement agencies must also take note: if you witness a citizen being detained by someone claiming to be a federal agent or law enforcement officer, your duty is to verify identity and authority before allowing or assisting in any arrest. Failure to do so may make you complicit in a felony.

Conclusion

This incident demands action:

  • Prosecute the individual guard for potential crimes.
  • Hold the security company accountable for oversight failures.
  • Demand transparency from Home Depot.
  • Alert and involve BSIS immediately.

No one should live in fear of being detained or deported by someone wearing a badge they don’t deserve.

Enough is enough. It’s time for justice — not vigilante justice disguised as security.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Orange County Law Enforcement Must Verify the Identities of Alleged Federal Agents

SAPD
Photo By: The Orange County Reporter / SAPD – A Local Law Enforcement Agency in Orange County who has assisted in arrests with the Alleged Federal Law Enforcement ICE

Disturbing accounts and video evidence have surfaced in recent months indicating that purported federal officials have been carrying out arrests and detentions in Orange County—and even Los Angeles County—without any obvious identification, credentials, or verifiable authority. These occurrences, which frequently involve unmarked cars, plainclothes persons, and ambiguous assertions of federal affiliation, give cause for significant worry about public safety, civil rights, and the rule of law.

Before assisting or cooperating with anyone who claims to be a federal agent in any arrest or detention, it’s time for Orange County’s local law enforcement agencies to take quick action by confirming the identities and qualifications of those people. Not doing so not only endangers the populace but might also implicate local police in unlawful activities, such as kidnapping, which is a crime under California Penal Code.

Source: Facebook/ Union Del Barrio. LAPD Caught protecting Alleged Federal Agents Kidnapping an individual in Downtown L.A. that have not been verified if they are Actually Law Enforcement Agents.

 The Issue

Unidentified people are now seen in several videos circulating online, occasionally accompanied by local police, detaining or arresting people without clearly identifying their agency, showing badges, or outlining the legal justification for the arrest. The fact that these people sometimes seem to act without transparency or accountability raises the alarming possibility that they are not actual federal agents but rather bounty hunters, private security officers, or, worse, imposters taking advantage of the public’s confidence in law enforcement.

In Santa Ana, for example, local police were seen aiding in an arrest made by suspected federal agents whose identities have not been established. In Los Angeles County, a startling video showed LAPD officers standing by and defending alleged Federal Agents who forcefully abducted someone from the street. This action may be considered kidnapping under California law if carried out without legal authorization.

What the law says

Kidnapping is defined in California law, particularly in Penal Code § 207, as transporting someone against their will, by force or fear, and without any legal cause. Unless “federal agents” are acting within the confines of legal authority, the law makes no provision for them. A person may be unlawfully deprived of their freedom if they are detained or arrested by someone who claims to have federal status but has no verified credentials, and anybody who helps in such an arrest may face criminal charges.

In particular, local police officers who have been certified by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) are trained to protect constitutional rights and enforce state laws. This includes making sure that every arrest is legal and made by someone with the authority to do so. Officers violate both their training and their sworn duty when they fail to confirm the validity of those making arrests, particularly when federal affiliation is asserted.

 Where Are Our Local Leaders?

The silence of district attorneys, city council members, and Orange County supervisors is deafening. These authorities are in charge of supervising law enforcement procedures and guaranteeing the safety of citizens’ civil rights. However, local agencies have not been given any explicit instruction from the government requiring them to confirm the identities of federal officers.

We ask that the heads of the county and the city come out and give unambiguous directives to every law enforcement agency in the area:

1. Verify Credentials: Before aiding in an arrest or detention, an officer must ascertain the identity, agency connection, and official status of anybody claiming to be a federal agent.

2. Demand Transparency: Officers must demand that any federal officer involved in an arrest produce legitimate identification, justify the basis for the arrest, and produce evidence of authority.

3. Report Suspicious Activity: Any suspected impersonation of a federal agent should be reported right away to the appropriate oversight organizations, such as the California Attorney General’s Office and the FBI.

4. Educate officers accordingly: Local departments must revise procedures and train officers on how to deal with encounters with unidentified federal officers, stressing the significance of adhering to state law and protecting citizens from illegal imprisonment.

Demanding Accountability

It establishes a hazardous precedent for local law enforcement to continue to stand by while unverified agents take people into custody. We cannot let our streets turn into a Wild West where anybody may assert federal power and pull people away with impunity.

This is not about defying federal law enforcement; it’s about making sure that those who assert such authority are real, responsible, and abiding by the law. Residents deserve more than misunderstanding, terror, and the risk of being held unlawfully. They deserve transparency, due process, and the assurance that their local police are protecting them — not enabling would-be criminals who are hiding behind badges they don’t possess.

Orange County needs to set an example for the rest of the state. Law enforcement should no longer aid in arrests made by unverified individuals. And our elected officials must take action right away to safeguard the rights and security of every resident.

Enough is enough.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Where Are Our Elected Officials in Los Angeles’s Military Crisis?

Militarized Blackhawk Helicopter

In a troubling escalation, the California National Guard has reportedly been sent to Los Angeles equipped with live ammunition rounds. Even more troubling is the fact that a military Blackhawk helicopter was observed in the metropolis providing live rounds to an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) site. On American land, in the middle of one of the most diverse cities in the country, not in a faraway war zone, this is occurring in our neighborhoods.

This incredibly disturbing conduct raises several urgent problems. Who authorized this military mission? With such extreme force, what is the justification for equipping federal immigration detention facilities? And, above all, where are the voices of accountability?

A Military Blackhawk Helicopter Delivering Live Ammunition and Explosives to ICE Agents near Downtown Los Angeles as Documented by ABC7 News Helicopter.

Bound by the Constitution to demand accountability and transparency, Congressman Lou Correa, representing part of Orange County and sitting on the powerful Homeland Security Committee, is bound by the Constitution. His quiet is overwhelming. As he is in charge of federal law enforcement agencies and homeland operations, his constituents need protection from the creeping normalization of military presence in civilian areas.

In the same vein, where are California’s other members of Congress, especially those who were directly elected to represent the Los Angeles area? What are they doing while military-grade equipment is flown to ICE grounds? The people they represent are watching their neighborhoods become militarized zones, and there is very little public discussion, hearings, or monitoring being done during this metamorphosis.

Particularly when live rounds are employed, the line between military occupation and civil policing becomes fuzzy when the National Guard is deployed in conjunction with federal immigration enforcement. Not just excessive, these acts serve as a terrifying, unlawful, and dangerous reminder of how unbridled authority damages democracy.

If elected officials like Lou Correa keep passive, they will be complicit in the erosion of civil rights and the growing adoption of authoritarian approaches under the pretense of national security. California officials cannot afford to turn a blind eye to problems. The public demands justification. They call for action. They call for bravery.

Those in power now have a choice to either back the people or remain apart and allow those who will.