LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – An intense physical altercation took place Sunday between taco stand owners, police, and inspectors with the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.
The incident was captured on camera. In the video, police officers from El Monte speak to both owners of the Los Palomos taco stand, husband and wife, Fermin Martinez and Sylvia Aguilar.
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In the video, a scuffle breaks out between the owners and various agents. The husband and wife are quickly brought to the ground. An officer punches Martinez in the arm several times with a flashlight in the video while officers try to cuff the pair.
“There are a lot of taco stands around and they don’t bother anyone but us,” said Martinez. “That’s what I wanted to know, but then they started hitting me and they threw me on the floor and often hit me in the head.”
His wife said on Sunday that she was upset about how the situation had turned out.
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“I am sad, very sad because we are at work,” she said. “We don’t rob anyone and we don’t ask anyone for help. We just want to work. “
According to Los Angeles County officials, the owners first became physically aggressive towards inspectors, who claimed the owners kicked an inspector and a police officer.
Both the El Monte Police Department and the LA County Health Department were originally there to investigate complaints about food being sold at the taco stand without a license, which violates the state health and safety code.
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The couple said they work to buy a food truck and then qualify for a permit.