5 arrested in now-viral fight between group of people and Santa Ana officers

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Five people were arrested in Santa Ana for allegedly assaulting police officers who were trying to arrest a man for drinking in public. A now-viral video of the incident is being reviewed as part of a use-of-force investigation.

The incident happened just before 2 a.m. Sunday in the downtown area, the Santa Ana Police Department said.

In the footage, two officers are seen taking a man into custody and holding him on the ground. A woman approaches them, touching one of the officers on the shoulder. The officer then grabs the woman by the head and pulls her to the ground.

From there, several people approached the two officers. One officer was pushed to the ground by a man, who was then tackled by another officer. The officer who was pushed down then pulled out his baton and started striking him, along with another man, during the scuffle.

Several other people and officers became involved in the incident, the video shows.

"As officers were making the arrest, a large crowd surrounded and assaulted officers, preventing the initial arrest," Santa Ana PD Officer Natalie Garcia told City News Service.

Three officers were injured with cuts and abrasions as a result of the assault, and three men and two women were arrested for obstructing them.

In a statement shared with Eyewitness News, SAPD Chief Robert Rodriguez said the now-viral video is being reviewed as part of a use-of-force investigation.

"We are aware of an incident that occurred shortly before 2 a.m. today in our downtown area, involving an arrest and the use of force by our officers. A portion of the incident was recorded and has been shared on social media," SAPD Chief Robert Rodriguez said in the statement. "We understand the concerns that arise when force is used, and we want to assure our community that the incident is being thoroughly reviewed, just as we do with all use of force incidents."

"We also want to remind the public that interfering with an arrest or striking an officer is unlawful and dangerous. Our officers are here to protect and serve, and we ask for the community's cooperation during all enforcement actions," Rodriguez went on to say. "We appreciate your continued support as we uphold our responsibility to ensure the safety of all members of our community."

This story has been updated to include the full cellphone video of the incident. You can see the footage in the video player above.

City News Service contributed to this report.