Police capture suspect only after brief struggle
By Daily Press staff
What began as a routine traffic stop turned into a substantial narcotics bust by Santa Monica Police officers.
Santa Monica resident Jeremy Naidoo was arrested Friday for possession of cocaine base for sale, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, battery of a police officer, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and other related charges.
Around 3:30 a.m. police officers say they witnessed a vehicle being driven by Naidoo speeding on Fourth Street in Santa Monica’s Ocean Park neighborhood. Allegedly, Naidoo then failed to stop at a stop sign on the corner of Fourth Street and Marine Street.
The officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, and only after a short distance did the car slow down and pull into the driveway of an apartment complex on the 3000 block of Third Street.
As officers approached the vehicle, they allegedly saw the suspect place his hand under the front seat. The Naidoo allegedly started yelling at the police officers and refused to cooperate with their instructions, police say.
While one officer was standing at the driver’s side door, the suspect began to pull his hand from underneath the seat. Fearing the suspect may have had a weapon under the seat, the officer cautiously backed away.
Naidoo took the opportunity to open his car door and attempt to flee the scene. As he was running from the officers he threw a plastic bag into the street. When officers caught up with Naidoo, he allegedly tried to fight free from their grasp but eventually he was subdued.
When officers retrieved the plastic bag, they said they found it contained several grams of powder cocaine, rock cocaine, marijuana and narcotics paraphernalia.
Naidoo is described by police as a 28-year old black male. He was booked at the Santa Monica Jail and charged with possession of cocaine for sale. Bail was set at $50,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 1, 2002. Read the original PDF.