Video clip from suspects of criminal offences arrest in one California town shows their surprised reaction after being told they would go to jail instead of being cited and released, a practice that many residents and lawmakers said enables destructive behavior and undermines public safety.
A video montage of body camera footage taken from the Seal Beach police station shows officers being asked if they could receive a ticket for their alleged infractions.
“Welcome to Orange County,” one officer is heard saying off camera.
CALIFORNIA ‘THEFT WITH POLICE’ BLITZ OPERATION LEADS TO DOZENS OF ARRESTS
Body camera footage in Seal Beach, California shows people’s surprise at being arrested for their alleged crimes instead of being cited and released. (Seal Beach Police/@copsofsealbeach)
In various clips, other suspects are heard asking if they can be transferred to Los Angeles County. Under the former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, who was ousted in November after a turbulent first term, has seen criminal suspects treated much differently than in neighboring Orange County because of Gascon’s criminal justice reforms.
Last year, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, a critic of Gascon and other soft-on-crime prosecutors, launched a billboard campaign warning criminals that crime doesn’t pay in his jurisdiction.
“Voters in every California county – including more than 75 percent of voters in Orange County – voted in November to support public safety and voted to approve Proposition 36 to hold repeat thieves accountable – and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Orange County is different,” Spitzer said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“We prosecute crime – both criminals – and the police officers who arrest them – know that,” he added.
NYC GROUP ROBBED 49 STORES CITYWIDE, STOLE ATMS, CASH: POLICE
Seal Beach police body cam footage shows suspected criminals surprised to learn they are going to jail. (Seal Beach Police/@copsofsealbeach)
In November, California voters approved Proposition 36which repealed some of the state’s most controversial anti-crime policies by increasing penalties for theft and drug-trafficking crimes.
In Seal Beach police footage, a person asks an officer if he’s going to give her a ticket for an alleged petty theft.
“When you go to Orange County, you go to the county jail,” says one officer.
Another is heard saying, “Can we go to LA County?”
THIEVES STOLE 2,500 PIES IN A STRANGE FOOD ROBBERY AS IF FOR EVIL: ‘THEY THROW IT AWAY’
Seal Beach police body cam footage (Seal Beach Police/@copsofsealbeach)
A woman is heard explaining that criminals are prosecuted in Orange County: “You’re in the wrong county.”
In December, Seal Beach authorities released a video showing three alleged shoplifters shocked when they learned the punishment for their crime. The video shows them in the Ulta Beauty store before allegedly stealing $650 worth of merchandise.
The video shows the women entering the Kohl’s department store and allegedly stealing more merchandise, totaling nearly $1,000 in stolen merchandise.
Police body cam footage then shows the officers chasing after the women before they were caught and arrested.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“That’s a felony?” one of the women asks the other in the back of the patrol car.
“B—h, new laws,” replies the partner. “Stealing is a felony and this Orange County, f—h. They don’t play around.”
