On September 27th, at approximately 8:45 a.m., Customs and Border Protection agents arrived at a Home Depot in Ladera Heights, located on Slauson Avenue and Fairfax Avenue. They proceeded to conduct their raid until a few moments later, when a Home Depot customer, who had chosen to remain anonymous, took notice of the agents holding a man on the ground.
Concerned, he says that he ran over to ask the man for his name and phone number so he could reach a family member.
While trying to assist, the customer was reprimanded by Border Patrol agents who told him he could not interfere with their operation. He nonetheless continued trying to provide aid for the man until the agents violently tried to arrest him.
He was tackled onto the pavement and was even tased.
As he was on the ground, Rachel, a H.I.L.L. Network community watch member, arrived at the parking lot as part of her usual shift and saw the customer getting assaulted while on the floor. She walked over and started documenting the arrest while asking the customer for his name and a phone number to reach a loved one, which is standard protocol for the organization’s volunteers.