Internal police investigation cited in delay of San Bernardino drug case hearing

11:53 PM PDT on Friday, September 26, 2008

By JOHN F. BERRY
The Press-Enterprise

SAN BERNARDINO - A closely watched and emotionally charged case involving six people who police say are drug dealers is on hold until San Bernardino police can complete an internal affairs investigation of a July 2 traffic stop, attorneys said Friday.

The investigation stems from allegations that two suspects were illegally detained for hours until a search warrant could be signed. Five other people were later arrested in the drug raid.

The internal affairs investigation was confirmed in San Bernardino County Superior Court on Friday, when the six defendants appeared for a hearing on a motion seeking to open the officers' personnel records.

Police haven't said who is being investigated.

A San Bernardino police report on the raid lists 13 officers who were involved in the raid. Among them is Sgt. Bradley Lawrence, who has been placed on administrative leave. Police Chief Michael Billdt said a state law prohibits him from discussing the matter.

The tense hearing on the motion to review the officers' files was delayed until Oct. 31.

Robert Simmons, a San Bernardino city attorney, said the delay was because defense attorneys did not file required paperwork in time to meet courtroom deadlines.

Deputy District Attorney Jay Hoffman said the outcome of the motion would determine what happens next.

"Until we can get an answer on the (internal affairs) investigation, there's not much we can do," Hoffman said. "Everyone will get together and see what we have. There are a million different possibilities."

Outside the courtroom, defense attorney Samuel Knudsen was skeptical that the internal affairs investigation would conclude before next month's hearing.

In the courtroom audience Friday were Steve Lyter, identified by a defense attorney as an internal affairs detective for the San Bernardino Police Department, and Sgt. Mike Desrochers, who wrote an e-mail to his superiors alleging that Lawrence had a history of detaining suspects without charges.

Lyter left before the hearing concluded, and Desrochers declined to discuss the investigation. He did say that internal affairs investigations could take as long as a year.

Lawrence declined to comment later Friday.

In court records, the defendants are identified as Frederick Edward Williams, 29; Carl Edward Alexander, 27; Toriano Jerome Houston, 37; and McKinley Tarpley, 32, all of Highland; and Maurice Lynell Lockett, 27; and Marquis Antoine Ware, 22, both of Pasadena. All are identified as documented gang members and all are charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana for sale and street terrorism.

Charges against Donald Joseph Mackson, 29, were dropped Aug. 13 because of insufficient evidence, Hoffman said.

Reach John F. Berry at 909-806-3058 or jberry@PE.com

Put on hold

A judge on Friday postponed a hearing in a case involving six people police say are drug dealers while San Bernardino police conduct an internal affairs investigation.

When: The next hearing will be Oct. 31 in San Bernardino County Superior Court.