SANTA ANA, CA — Witnesses captured disturbing cellphone footage of what appeared to be masked federal agents forcefully arresting two men in Santa Ana on Sunday afternoon, marking the latest in a series of violent enforcement operations in the area.
The incident took place around 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of Warner Avenue and Main Street, roughly two and a half miles from where landscaper Narciso Barranco was seen on video being repeatedly struck and arrested earlier this month. Federal authorities claim Barranco assaulted agents with a weed trimmer before his arrest.
In the latest video, one man is seen pinned to the ground by two federal officers in the middle of the street. Nearby, four more agents violently subdue another man, with one officer seen repeatedly striking him with a baton.
As onlookers gathered, some honking their car horns, two agents approached a bystander who questioned and insulted them. One of the officers held his baton horizontally as a barrier while the others placed the two detained men in handcuffs.
It remains unclear what led to the confrontation, as the events before witnesses began filming are not known. By the end of the video, both men were in custody and being escorted away by federal agents.
This is the latest in a growing number of reported federal enforcement actions in and around Santa Ana. The nature of these operations, often involving masked agents, has raised concerns among residents.
The Santa Ana Police Department released a statement last week urging residents to report abandoned property — such as vehicles or food vendor equipment — that they suspect may belong to individuals detained by federal authorities.
Authorities have not provided further details on the incident or the identities of those arrested.
