Melissa Saenz
Melissa Saenz is a patrol officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. She and her partner, Officer Tyler Hadden, responded to the May 21, 2016 domestic disturbance call at Johnny Depp's Eastern Columbia Building penthouse in downtown Los Angeles. She had no prior relationship with either party and had not yet been issued a body-worn camera at the time of the incident — her first recorded use was June 16, 2016.
Testimony Impact
Saenz was called by Heard's counsel to establish that the police response was cursory and undocumented — no body-worn camera, no DV supplement report filed, and approximately 15 minutes on scene. Bredehoft walked her through LAPD domestic violence protocol standards she had not followed: no VINE pamphlet provided, no supplemental form completed, no notes or photographs taken, and a hallway stain she never observed. On cross, Presiado turned her testimony into an affirmative record for Depp: Saenz confirmed she saw no injuries, found no disarray, determined there was no probable cause, and that Heard answered none of her questions throughout the visit. The competing frames — negligent investigation versus genuine no-crime finding — placed her at the center of the trial's most contested factual dispute.
Notable Quotes From The Record
“So the first day that I took out body-worn video was June 16th of 2016.”
Confirms no body-worn camera footage exists from the May 21, 2016 incident.
“Correct. It did not meet criteria.”
Officer's direct statement that the May 21 incident did not meet LAPD domestic violence reporting criteria.
“I did not. I didn't identify her as a victim of domestic violence.”
Explains why Saenz did not provide the VINE DV resource pamphlet to Heard.
“It's consistent with her crying. She's fair-skinned. Her face is flush.”
Saenz's repeated explanation for the facial redness visible in photographs of Heard taken the night of May 21, 2016.
“Ms. Heard was uncooperative.”
Direct confirmation that Heard refused to engage with police, undermining any claim she sought help that night.
“I determined that she did not sustain any injuries.”
The responding officer's explicit finding after multiple close-range observations throughout the visit.
“There was no probable cause of any sort of crime.”
The legal conclusion from the investigating officer — no basis for a DV arrest or written report.
“Yes, the photo on the left is brighter, causing the redness on the cheeks to, what appears to be brighter, or exaggerated.”
Saenz observes that the two identically-timestamped photos differ only in brightness, raising the inference that one image was enhanced to make Heard's facial redness appear more severe.
“Assuming the times are correct, yes.”
Saenz confirms the 15-minute timeline but hedges on whether the elevator timestamps are accurate, leaving the duration marginally in dispute.
“No.”
Confirms no documentation beyond the CAD summary and incident recall was created — a clean, unqualified answer that strengthens Heard's characterization of a minimal police response.
Key Moments
Saenz establishes she had no body-worn camera on May 21, 2016 — her first recorded use was June 16, 2016, confirmed via evidence.com — meaning no contemporaneous footage exists of the penthouse visit.
Day 9 · Direct of Melissa Saenz
Bredehoft walks Saenz through the LAPD DV supplemental report form and Standards of Review; Saenz concedes she completed none of the prescribed documentation steps, because she concluded the incident did not meet DV criteria.
Day 9 · Direct of Melissa Saenz
Saenz reviews six photographs of Heard's face and repeatedly attributes visible redness to crying and fair complexion — 'It's consistent with her crying. She's fair-skinned. Her face is flush.' — declining each time to characterize it as injury.
Day 9 · Direct of Melissa Saenz
Bredehoft presents a photograph of a reddish stain on the penthouse hallway carpet that Saenz never noticed or documented, despite testifying the hallways were well-lit and she had inspected them.
Day 9 · Direct of Melissa Saenz
Presiado elicits that Heard was entirely uncooperative throughout — answered none of Saenz's questions, said nothing when asked what happened — establishing the investigation was constrained by the party Heard's team called Saenz to support.
Day 9 · Cross of Melissa Saenz
Presiado walks Saenz through both protective sweeps of the penthouses; she confirms she saw nothing in disarray and concludes: 'There was no probable cause of any sort of crime.'
Day 9 · Cross of Melissa Saenz
Presiado displays two photographs of Heard bearing the identical timestamp — 9:25:12 p.m., May 21, 2016 — but visibly different brightness; Saenz confirms the brighter image exaggerates the appearance of facial redness, undermining the evidentiary inference of injury.
Day 9 · Cross of Melissa Saenz
Bredehoft revisits elevator timestamps — 21:04:43 and 21:19:49 — and Saenz agrees, with a hedge on accuracy, that the officers were on the floor for approximately 15 minutes; she confirms no documentation beyond the CAD summary and incident recall was created by either officer.
Day 9 · Redirect of Melissa Saenz
Locations
Evidence From Their Proceedings (14)
CAD Summary / Incident Recall — May 21, 2016 Penthouse Call
The Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) summary and incident recall for the May 21, 2016 call to 849 S. Broadway, coded 242D (battery/DV), recording the call timeline (initiation 8:35…
Catalog entry →LAPD Domestic Violence Supplemental Report Form (Form 15.40.02)
The LAPD Domestic Violence Supplemental Report form containing victim observation checklists, victim emotional state assessments, crime scene indicators, and approximately 70…
Catalog entry →May 21, 2016 Face Photos — Exhibits 24–29 Series
Multiple photographs of Heard's face from May 21, 2016 showing facial redness, including two photos sharing an identical timestamp of 9:25:12 PM but differing in brightness and…
Catalog entry →LAPD Chief of Police Memo — DV Supplemental Report Form Revision (Nov. 24, 2014)
A November 24, 2014 memo from the Office of the Chief of Police announcing the revision of the LAPD Domestic Violence Supplemental Report Form to provide a more concise picture of…
Catalog entry →ECB Elevator: Officers' 15-Minute Visit (May 21, 2016)
Elevator surveillance footage and still photographs from the Eastern Columbia Building bearing timestamps 21:04:43 and 21:19:49 on May 21, 2016, showing Officers Saenz and Hadden…
Catalog entry →Hallway Carpet Stain Photo — Exhibit 18
A photograph of the carpeting or flooring in the hallway area near the penthouse elevator, showing a reddish stain or discoloration. The same image was introduced during the…
Catalog entry →LAPD Business Card Left for Heard — May 21, 2016
The front and back of the LAPD business card left for Amber Heard on the night of May 21, 2016, bearing handwritten notes including 'refused report' and 'advised can call at later…
Catalog entry →LAPD DV Field Notebook Divider — Case Preparation Guidelines (LAPD 18.30.02)
An LAPD field notebook divider (LAPD 18.30.02, dated January 31, 2010) setting out domestic violence laws and case preparation guidelines, including obligations to note…
Catalog entry →Defendant's Exhibit 14 — Multi-page document recognized by Saenz and reviewed in depo
Multi-page document recognized by Saenz and reviewed in deposition preparation
Catalog entry →Defendant's Exhibit 730 — Exhibit admitted into evidence and published to jury without
Exhibit admitted into evidence and published to jury without objection from Depp's counsel
Catalog entry →Exhibit 41 — Scene Disarray Photo or Document (Saenz)
A photograph or document shown to Officer Saenz during cross-examination in connection with questions about whether she observed any disarray during her protective sweep of the…
Catalog entry →LAPD Chief of Police VINE Pamphlet Mandate Memo (April 9, 2020)
An April 9, 2020 memo from the Office of the Chief of Police addressing the VINE pamphlet and legislatively mandated requirements to provide domestic violence victim information…
Catalog entry →Melissa Saenz Deposition Transcript — July 18, 2016
The transcript of Melissa Saenz's deposition taken approximately two months after the May 21, 2016 incident, introduced as Exhibit 57.
Catalog entry →VINE Pamphlet — Domestic Violence Victim Resources
A VINE pamphlet listing domestic violence victim resources, shelters, and phone numbers, introduced as Exhibit 11 during Officer Saenz's deposition.
Catalog entry →