First Amendment Auditor Briefly Detained After Harassing Churchgoers Near San Dimas

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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CHARTER OAK - A first amendment auditor was briefly detained Sunday afternoon as he live-streamed himself on YouTube openly harassing parishioners of St. John Church while armed with a stun gun.

A man who identifies himself as Jose Gonzalez, aka SGV News First, approached St. John Coptic Orthodox Church, 21329 E. Cienega Ave., around 12:40 p.m. and began a livestream on YouTube. As parishioners entered and exited the property, Gonzalez would blather odd phrases at them, pretending to be a director.

As the YouTube livestream continued, either parishioners or employees of the church confronted Gonzalez, who would snap back with more nonsensical drivel and occasional physical insults.

Deputies were called to the scene after a weapon, initially believed to be a handgun, was seen holstered on the YouTuber.

Gonzalez, who might possibly live in La Puente, was detained and searched. He was found to be in lawful possession of the weapon. Deputies found no other reason to arrest or further detain him, so he was released, according to Lt. Fillpot of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

“He did not do anything illegal, otherwise we would have taken appropriate enforcement action,” Fillpot told SGV CityWatch.

First Amendment auditors push the boundaries of civil behavior, standing just outside businesses to use flash photography and record their harassment of workers, customers and others. Auditors have recorded themselves many times inside businesses, such as post offices, to record people to get a reaction as the auditors hurl insults and expletives.

Auditors operate across the country and receive income from fans and through YouTube, the latter seemingly complacent in the harassment.

On occasion, assaults have taken place, with either the auditor or the victim being arrested.

Gonzalez and his ragtag group of other auditors have been documented harassing other churches, including three Santa Clarita churches in 2021.

What exactly can the public do to counter this behavior?

“Knowledge is the key point to this. In our society people have the right to video you when you are in public. I wouldn’t confront them, I wouldn’t try to take their camera away,” Fillpot told SGV CityWatch.

Fillpot said erecting walls and “no trespassing” signs might be a more extreme approach, but effective.

“Unfortunately when it comes to these instances the people we encounter are unpleasant, not just to us, but to the public. They’re trying get a reaction, which will get more people to view their YouTube videos. The more views, the more money they get,” Fillpot surmised.

Fillpot suggested ignoring the auditors and pretending they are not even there. “If they don’t get a rise out of people, no one is going to want to watch a bunch of people coming to and leaving church.”

As he left the scene, Gonzalez mentioned that he originally intended to hit One & All church, 1404 W. Covina Blvd., and plans to strike the church at an unknown future date.

Although he does have a Twitter and Facebook page, both receiving a little content in the last year, he primarily live streams to YouTube. Monitoring that channel will help alert people, should he hit your business or church.