Ivan D. Sarabia-Medina was a cop with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division for 16 years earlier than his TikTok movies obtained him fired. Sarabia-Medina beloved being a police officer, however he beloved posting extra. When he was caught posting on the job, he lied about doing it. The lies had been apparent, silly, and simply checked. His profession as a regulation enforcement is now over, however his TikToks stay on because of a playlist put collectively by the California Fee on Peace Officer Requirements and Coaching
The saddest factor about Sarabia-Medina’s TikTok profession is that it wasn’t excellent. Investigators saved 16 separate movies they used to finish the person’s profession they usually’re all fairly comparable. Sarabia-Medina seems in full uniform, usually in his patrol automotive or the police station, and he mugs for the digicam for just a few seconds.
Cataloging the weapons he has entry to is a standard theme. “These are good proper right here,” Sarabia-Medina says, exhibiting off stun grenades. “You need to maintain that pin in there always.” The digicam pans to indicate a paintball-style gun that launches pellets crammed with pepper powder. “And, after all, the pepperball. That’s a enjoyable one too. So. Cool. Let’s do it.”
In one other video Sarabia-Medina can be in full uniform whereas he spins round in an workplace chair. The phrases “HIT THE LIKE BUTTON TIKTOK!” float above his head. “What are you doing,” he says, bending over the digicam. “Why are you not hitting the like button? Come on. Go forward. Prefer it. There you go.” He leans again and spins in his chair once more.
A 3rd video reveals Sarabia-Medina going by way of an In-N-Out drive-thru to select up a Flying Dutchman. “IN & OUT FLYING DUTCHMAN 50% OFF, THANK YOU SIR!” learn the phrases floating above the cop’s head. Then he sits within the drive-thru whereas the unseen cashier tells him that they’re engaged on his low cost.
Paperwork concerning the investigation make it clear that Sarabia-Medina was in hassle for the TikToks, however what obtained him fired was mendacity to inside affairs once they began to look into it. Based on the paperwork, inside affairs started an investigation after a retired LASD sergeant observed the TikToks and known as to complain. After IA began going by way of the movies they discovered a number of issues.
“The movies confirmed Respondent activating a taser in his hand whereas in uniform and in a police car. Respondent was additionally seen contained in the Walnut Station (Respondent’s obligation station) critiquing one other TikTok consumer’s video associated to look and seizure. Respondent made extra TikTok movies whereas inside Walnut Station, one such video was filmed within the station armory and confirmed Respondent manipulating a shotgun in his palms and one other video manipulating a less-lethal weapon and pointing it on the digicam. Respondent made different movies from the inside of his patrol car which confirmed his Cellular Digital Laptop (MDC), the car’s takedown lights illuminating the outside of the car and exhibiting the inside of the car and the car’s stock of weapons. Respondent recorded himself receiving a gratuity within the type of a reduced meal whereas on obligation, in a police car, and in full division uniform. The LASD reviewed a complete of 26 TikTok movies for his or her investigation.”
When investigators questioned Sarabia-Medina concerning the TikToks, he repeatedly lied about being on obligation throughout filming, even when it was apparent. The add occasions of the movies, clocks within the background of the recording, and even his personal wristwatch—seen in a number of recordings—give away that the cop was filming TikToks on obligation. They even discovered the receipt for his In-N-Out buy, included within the investigation paperwork, that proved he was imagined to be working whereas he was dicking round in a drive-thru.
Transcripts of the investigation are infuriating. Sarabia-Medina sticks to his lie it doesn’t matter what. In a single video he appears straight on the digicam and offers the precise date, day, and time. He complains about being drained and prepared for 2 days off. He instructed investigators that he was off obligation when he recorded the video.
“So, the explanation why I mentioned it’s 3 AM—it’s not essentially as a result of it was 3 AM; I used to be attempting to painting to my followers that it was 3 AM and I used to be drained,” he mentioned through the interview. “That was truly on the finish of my shift. I used to be on the point of unload my stuff and I made a decision to make that video. It’s not frequent that I’d say, ‘Oh hey guys it’s, you recognize, 2 within the morning, I’m drained, I simply obtained off name—and I could possibly be sitting in my storage or sitting within the parking zone.’ It’s simply one thing that, you recognize, I’ve achieved prior to now.”
The interviewer pressed. “What was your intent? To deceive your followers by giving them the inaccurate time?”
Serbia-Medina mentioned it was all an act. “It’s catchy. Numerous the followers, you recognize, they need to see officers on obligation or going to 10-8. Since I do know I can’t go 10-8 and present myself, I’ll typically faux that I’m on obligation once I’m not on obligation.”
Investigators additionally pressed him on his propensity to indicate off weapons in movies. “Do you assume that anybody who sees this video can assume that division members are trigger-happy since we have now a number of movies the place we’re displaying weaponry, whether or not deadly or nonlethal?”
“Yeah I received’t speculate as to what another person would possibly assume,” Sarabina-Medina mentioned.
“Effectively, do you assume somebody can infer we’re trigger-happy based mostly on a number of TikTok Movies you posted in your account exhibiting deadly and less-lethal weapons?”
And right here, he the TikTok cop lastly relented. “Yeah, the title of the video says 15000 Volts, Please Struggle Us In Court docket, Not On the Avenue. It’s meant as a message to say, you recognize, please don’t struggle cops, you recognize, simply wait ‘til you go to court docket after which you possibly can state your case in court docket.”
Sarabina-Medina’s regulation enforcement profession led to a nightmare. He was pulled right into a room and interrogated about his posts. Investigators made him reply for each silly determination he made when he turned on the digicam and tried to grow to be a social media star.
In one of many movies that actually sank him, Sarabina-Medina filmed a boring duet with a lawyer explaining the principles round illegal search and seizure. As soon as once more, he claimed he was off obligation on the time of filming. “There isn’t a direct proof apart from Respondent’s personal assertion that he recorded this video on the finish of his shift; on the contrary, there may be direct proof refuting Respondent’s assertion. Respondent’s wristwatch confirmed the video was recorded at 0205 hours (2:05 AM). The respondent instructed investigators this video was recorded on the finish of his shift—that was clearly not the case,” the investigation mentioned.
