Jeanne Umana who harassed a Latino builder for being ‘Tijuanan’ and was then caught on camera berating a taco vendor is charged in California with battery and criminal trespass charges
A Santa Barbara woman who was caught on camera harassing a Latino builder for being “Tijuanan” and threatening a taco street vendor has been charged with assault and battery.
Jeanne Umana, 74, sparked outrage last month after she was first filmed harassing Luis Cervantes at a construction site.
Cervantes had asked the former University of California-Santa Barbara lecturer to leave the private area, prompting an outburst in which she told him, “I live here.” I’m an American, you’re a Tijuan.” Her behavior sparked a major outcry in the community.
More recently, another video surfaced of her going after another Latino man and calling him “an illegal thug.” On both occasions, Umana claimed to be with the local police, something they categorically denied.
Now the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office has confirmed it is filing charges over the incidents, but despite public outcry, the company is not prosecuting hate crimes.
Jeanne Umana faces trespass and battery charges after she was filmed harassing two different Latino men during heated encounters
The 74-year-old lashed out at construction worker Luis Cervantes after he pointed out the site was private property and she had to leave
Santa Barbara Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Karapetian told the LA Times, “Based on the evidence we have at this time, we filed the charges we believed we could prove before a jury of 12, beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The district attorney first began considering charges after Umana’s initial Sept. 16 rant against Cervantes went viral.
In the clip, she is seen wandering around the construction site before Cervantes tells her she can’t be there because it’s private property.
Umana says bluntly, “I work for the police, so that’s okay. You work here and you are not based here, is that correct?’
Cervantes reminds her again that she is on private property and begins to walk away before turning and responding, “That’s fine, I already reported you.” I have the right to know who my neighbors are.’
Cervantes again says she doesn’t have permission and that he can call the police, prompting Umana to sarcastically respond, “Oh, arrest me.”
As she turns to leave, she turns again and says, “I live here. I’m an American, you’re a Tijuan.”
Cervantes then calls her out for being “racist.” She turns back around and says, “I’m very much against people breaking laws,” before jumping toward the camera.
The former University of California Santa Barbara lecturer was then filmed berating a Latino street food vendor by calling him a “con artist” and “illegal.”
Cervanted said News Channel 3-12 that Umana swore at him and threatened to call immigration agents.
He explained that he was trying to remain polite. He said, “I said good morning, have a nice day, closed my window and went to work.”
Umana – who worked as a part-time lecturer at UC-Santa Barbara 20 years ago – later told the LA times that she had gone to the construction site to report a speeding vehicle and illegal parking.
“I’m really sorry that this has gotten out of hand, and I regret making those statements because I said them in the heat of the moment,” she told the Times.
“They weren’t measured, and whatever I feel, I have no right to take it out on anyone else. But unfortunately I lost control.”
However, a second incident has come to light, which apparently occurred before the altercation with Cervantes.
In that video, she is heard berating a street food vendor named Antonio and threatening to report him to the police.
She tells him, “You’re illegal, you’re selling food that makes people sick. The city is now arresting people who do that, they don’t want you here. They want you out.’
On both occasions, Umana pretended to work for the police and threatened to report the men to the authorities. Police have since denied any links to the force.
She then falsely claims that she works for the police PR team. She says she reported him and tells him, “Because you’re a crook, you’re an illegal crook.”
She goes on to rant, “I thought you could speak English, you don’t speak English, you’re a liar. Put your stuff on the truck.”
The Santa Barbara Police Department has since confirmed that Umana has no ties to the department and said it “does not condone her behavior.”
A police release confirmed Umana has been charged with assault and trespass. The case will be arraigned in Santa Barbara Superior Court on November 30.
Councilman Oscar Gutierrez called Umana’s behavior “criminal.” He told the LA Times: “The audacity she had to feel like she could represent people at that level, and then she would go out and attack people of color, is just beyond obscene.”
He also expressed disappointment that the district attorney had not stopped pursuing hate crime charges.
Activist Alex Enamorado, who led community protests in response to Umana’s first video, agreed. He said, “It feels like (the district attorney) didn’t give us anything.”
Enamorado led hundreds of protesters who closed an intersection before marching to the police station.