Gang-related shoot-out, drug bust keep police on their toes
By Daily Press staff
PICO NEIGHBORHOOD — Police were busy in this neighborhood late Thursday and early Friday as they responded to a gang-related shooting and a SWAT team forced their way into an apartment where they found drugs, guns and cash.
No one was injured in the shooting and two Santa Monica residents were arrested in the drug bust.
On Thursday, at 11:11 p.m., Santa Monica Police responded to the area of 20th Street and Pico Boulevard after someone reported shots being fired. While responding to the call, an officer was flagged down at Lincoln and Pico boulevards by the victim. Preliminary information indicated the suspects said something to the victim while in the parking lot at 20th Street and Pico Boulevard and the suspect drove away. The victim said he saw the suspect’s vehicle at 19th Street and Delaware Avenue at which time the suspect yelled a slogan of a local Santa Monica gang, then he heard a shot being fired in his direction, police said. The victim drove southbound on 20th Street being followed by the suspect or suspects. The victims drove southbound 20th Street to Ocean Park Boulevard and then westbound on Ocean Park Boulevard to Lincoln Boulevard. During that time, the suspects were following the victims and they claimed that they heard additional shots.
Police consider the incident gang-related. The suspect is described as a male, Hispanic, 22 years old, 5 feet, five inches tall, stocky, weighing 160 to 180 pounds, having short black hair, a slight mustache, wearing a black short sleeve shirt unbuttoned with white patches on the chest and right sleeve and a white T-shirt underneath, black baggy pants and black shoes.
The suspect’s vehicle is described as a late 1980s or early 1990s brown, Honda, two-door, possible a Prelude.
At 6:30 a.m. on Friday, the Santa Monica Police Department’s Special Entry Team and narcotics detectives served a search warrant in the 1800 block of 17th Street. Officers made forced entry into the apartment and once inside, they recovered an undisclosed amount of cocaine and marijuana. Also recovered were two loaded rifles and U.S. currency.
Donnie Brown, age not known, and Layhachie Collier, 32, both of Santa Monica, were arrested and taken to Santa Monica Jail. Both suspects were booked for possession of rock cocaine and marijuana for the purposes of sales, possession of a loaded firearm in the presence of narcotics. An additional charge of destruction of evidence was added to Brown because when officers entered the residence, he was flushing contraband down the toilet, police said.
Bail has been set at $30,000 for each suspect.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Robbery/Homicide Unit of the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8451 or the watch commander’s office at (310) 458- 8426. Callers who wish to provide anonymous information may also call the We- Tip national hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463). Callers with information that leads to an arrest and conviction become eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 10, 2005. Read the original PDF.