From the back of a Fullerton PD car, a suspect utters surprising words to his arresting officer.
That suspect was Corona Norco Rescue Mission resident Raul Perez, one of the current baristas at Restoration Roasters coffee shop.
*Photos C/O: Steven Georges
The [then] meth addict sat in the back of the patrol car, handcuffed and strung out after an all-night binge.
In his seven years as a cop, Fullerton Police Officer Denny Bak has heard a lot from suspects in the back of his patrol car.
What came out of the mouth of Raul Anthony Perez that morning last February, however, was a first:
“Thank you,” Perez told Bak.
“For what?”
“Thank you for arresting me.”
***
For 13 years, Perez, who grew up in Anaheim, had been struggling with drug addiction.
On Feb. 16, he was heading nowhere fast.
Read more of this story by Greg Hardesty at Behind the Badge here.
You can support Restoration Roasters by purchasing coffee from the website here.
