San Francisco Police Address Controversy Over Arrest of Street Vendor Ana Luisa Casamir Julca, Accusing Viral Footage of Editing for Dramatic Effect

In a recent turn of events, the San Francisco Police Department found themselves defending a troubling incident where officers were filmed detaining a street vendor named Ana Luisa Casamir Julca.

The footage, which quickly went viral, shows Julca, a hot dog vendor and single mother, being roughly arrested while her young daughter cries nearby.

Police Claim Video Was Edited

Amid growing public concern, the San Francisco Police issued a response, asserting that the video circulating online had been edited to omit crucial details.

They argued that Julca had been involved in an altercation with a port employee before the camera started rolling.

According to the police, a witness alleged that someone in the crowd had instructed Julca’s daughter to start crying to manipulate the situation.

The department shared this explanation on X, emphasizing that the child’s distress was staged to create a more dramatic scene.

The Arrest Explained

The police clarified that their officers initially approached Julca to issue a warning for allegedly vending illegally on a boardwalk.

When they returned to find her still operating, they attempted to confiscate her hot dog cart.

Julca reportedly clung to the cart and refused to let it go.

The police stated that at this point, they had sufficient grounds to arrest Julca but chose to deescalate the situation by separating her from the cart.

However, they claimed that Julca then attacked a port employee, prompting them to arrest her.

The Struggle and the Crying Child

According to the police, Julca resisted arrest even after being subdued on the ground.

They mentioned that other vendors attempted to intervene, adding to the chaos.

The police highlighted that body camera footage showed various vendors recording the incident, but only the portion where Julca was being handcuffed was shared online.

The police dismissed claims that the child was genuinely upset, asserting that she had been instructed to cry by someone in the crowd.

They suggested that the footage posted online was misleading and lacked the full context of what transpired.

Impact on Julca and Her Family

Julca, who was cited for battery and obstructing a peace officer, expressed distress over her situation.

She claimed that the arrest and the seizure of her cart have left her unable to work, causing significant hardship for her family.

“My whole head and everything is bruised,” she told ABC7, questioning how the situation escalated to such violence.

Official Response and Reactions

Following the arrest, an SFPD spokesperson reiterated that Julca had violated several laws, including those related to food safety and vending, as well as the alleged assault.

SFPD Director of Communications Evan Sernoffsky concluded by suggesting that Julca should reconsider her behavior when interacting with city workers.

As the community continues to debate the incident, the contrasting accounts from the police and those who witnessed the arrest leave many questions unanswered.