LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – On Sunday, there was intense physical altercation between taco stand owners, police officers and inspectors from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The incident was captured on camera. In the video, El Monte police officers talk to the two owners of the Los Palomos block, husband and wife, Fermin Martinez and Sylvia Aguilar.
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In the video, a fight breaks out between the owners and several agents. The husband and wife are quickly brought to the ground. An officer hits Martinez several times in the arm with a flashlight on the video while officers try to handcuff the couple.
“There are a lot of tacos around and they don’t bother anyone but us,” Martinez said. “That’s what I wanted to know, but then they started hitting me and threw me to the ground and hit me in the head many times.”
His wife said Sunday she was upset by the situation.
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“I’m sad, very sad because we’re working,” he said. “We do not steal from anyone and we do not ask anyone for help. We just want to work. “
According to Los Angeles County officials, the owners became physically aggressive in front of inspectors, who claimed the owners kicked an inspector and a police officer.
Both El Monte Police and the Los Angeles County Department of Health were originally there to investigate complaints about the sale of food without permission at the taco stand, which goes against the health and safety code. of the state.
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The couple said they work to buy a food truck and then get eligibility for a permit.