Three Santa Ana police officers were charged with petty theft on Monday, stemming from a raid they conducted at Sky High Holistic medical marijuana shop last year, where they allegedly snacked on cookies and protein bars.
Collectively, they could serve up to 24 months in prison if convicted.
According to local ABC News affiliate KABC, Officers Nicole Lynn Quijas, 37, and Jorge Arroyo, 32, face a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine each for petty theft. Officer Brandon Matthew Sontag, 31, faces up to 18 months in jail and a $2,000 fine for both the petty theft and for a misdemeanor count of vandalism for allegedly smashing five security cameras that held evidence on them.
While attorneys representing the pot shop allege the cookies the officers consumed were “edibles”, laced with marijuana, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office reportedly disputed the allegations.
However, the attorney for the pot shop, Matthew Pappas, told KABC, “Because some were consuming regular food products does not mean they were not consuming edibles.”
The Los Angeles Times notes that while Sontag allegedly destroyed at least five surveillance cameras, four hidden cameras that were not discovered during the raid recorded the officers’ actions.
The three officers are reportedly scheduled for arraignment on April 11 in a Santa Ana courthouse.
Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter @AdelleNaz.