Sarabia-Medina loved being a police officer, but he loved posting more.
When he was caught posting on the job, he lied about doing it.
The lies were obvious, stupid, and easily checked.
A former LASD employee posting about his time in an In-N-Out drive-thru on TikTok.Screengrab from YouTube
Investigators saved 16 separate videos they used to end the mans career and theyre all pretty similar.
Cataloging the weapons he has access to is a common theme.
These are good right here, Sarabia-Medina says,showing off stun grenades.
You want to keep that pin in there at all times.
The camera pans to show a paintball-style gun that launches pellets filled with pepper powder.
And, of course, the pepperball.
Thats a fun one too.
In another video Sarabia-Medina is also in full uniform while he spins around in an office chair.
The words HIT THE LIKE BUTTON TIKTOK!
float above his head.
What are you doing, he says, bending over the camera.
Why are you not hitting the like button?
He leans back and spins in his chair again.
Athird videoshows Sarabia-Medina going through an In-N-Out drive-thru to pick up a Flying Dutchman.
IN & OUT FLYING DUTCHMAN 50% OFF, THANK YOU SIR!
read the words floating above the cops head.
Then he sits in the drive-thru while the unseen cashier tells him that theyre working on his discount.
After IA started going through the videos they found several problems.
The videos showed Respondent activating a taser in his hand while in uniform and in a police vehicle.
The LASD reviewed a total of 26 TikTok videos for their investigation.
Transcripts of the investigation are infuriating.
Sarabia-Medina sticks to his lie no matter what.
In one video helooks directly at the cameraand gives the exact date, day, and time.
He complains about being tired and ready for two days off.
He told investigators that he was off duty when he recorded the video.
That was actually at the end of my shift.
I was getting ready to unload my stuff and I decided to make that video.
Its just something that, you know, Ive done in the past.
What was your intent?
To deceive your followers by giving them the incorrect time?
Serbia-Medina said it was all an act.
Investigators also pressed him on his propensity to show off weapons in videos.
Yeah I wont speculate as to what someone else might assume, Sarabina-Medina said.
And here, he the TikTok cop finally relented.
Sarabina-Medinas law enforcement career ended in a nightmare.
He was pulled into a room and interrogated about his posts.
Once again, he claimed he was off duty at the time of filming.
Respondents wristwatch showed the video was recorded at 0205 hours (2:05 AM).
News from the future, delivered to your present.
