Samantha Luna, a 20-year-old from Arcata, California, posted five videos that show the physical encounter she had with Humboldt State University police officers on Saturday, June 16. The videos were posted to Facebook on Sunday, June 17.
Humboldt State University said in a statement that university police officers made a traffic stop after seeing the passenger of a vehicle hanging dangerously out of the sunroof. Luna, sitting in the passenger seat, asks Sargent Janelle Jackson, “why are you being so rude?”
Sargent Jackson responds by saying: “Seriously? You’re about two seconds from going to jail for public intoxication. Do you not understand that? So I would stop talking if I were you.”
Luna, who is not a student at Humboldt State University, was charged with suspicion of resisting arrest, battery on a peace officer, public intoxication, and providing false identification to a police officer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b85Dw0R4ipg
Humboldt State University is now investigating the incident. You can read the full statement from the Humboldt State University Police Department below:
On Saturday, June 16, the Humboldt State University Police Department was working a multi-agency operation targeting alcohol violations. In conjunction with this operation, two arrests were made off campus at 9th and F streets in Arcata. The University is looking into circumstances surrounding these arrests, as well as videos that have been shared.
University Police officers made a traffic stop at 8:21 p.m., after seeing the passenger of a vehicle hanging dangerously out of the sunroof. That person, a juvenile, was arrested on suspicion of providing false identification to a peace officer, public intoxication, and battery on a peace officer.
Following that arrest, another passenger in the vehicle, Samantha Alonso Luna, was arrested following an altercation with a UPD officer. Alonso Luna was booked on suspicion of resisting arrest, battery on a peace officer, public intoxication, and providing false identification to a police officer.HSU President Lisa Rossbacher and UPD Chief Donn Peterson are aware of the incident, and have reviewed video of the arrest. Peterson says that there was reasonable cause to conduct the initial stop and investigate the alcohol violations that were subsequently observed.
All video relating the incident is being reviewed and there will be a transparent and independent review of the arrest as well as a full internal review.“We take underage drinking very seriously,” Peterson says. “The stop and what occurred afterwards will be thoroughly reviewed by the District Attorney.”“I have seen the video of this arrest, and I have confidence that Chief Peterson and our University Police will conduct a thorough review,” says Rossbacher. “The external review will give our University community the opportunity to understand this incident in a full and fair light.”Alonso Luna is not an HSU student. The name of the other arrestee is being withheld because the person is a minor.UPD regularly assists enforcement relating to underage drinking, as well as to keep vendors and establishments in compliance with laws that restrict providing alcohol to minors.
Jail records show that Luna was released from jail around 1 a.m. on Sunday, June 17. She has since started GoFundMe to help pay her legal bills. Furthermore, she says she cannot “release a detailed statement to the media at this time.”
Humboldt State University is a public university in Arcata, California. It is the northernmost campus of the 23-school California State University system.
