Gun Cache Seized From Skid Row Hotel
Courtesy LAPD
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Two shotguns and a stolen handgun were among five weapons seized last Friday from a man living in Skid Row's Southern Hotel. Police arrested Jimmy Joe Dukes, 55, after searching his room for drugs that he was believed to be dealing out of the space.
Along with the weapons, they found residue of cocaine and marijuana, a scale and baggies for selling the drugs, ammunition for the guns, brass knuckles, and over $800 cash.
Dukes has a history of more than two dozen arrests -- including for assault, drug dealing and gun possession -- but his only felony conviction was a 2004 case for welfare abuse.
“Arrests like this one are important and emblematic for two reasons,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of Central Detective Division. “These arrests throw criminals’ guns into a hole, never to see the light of day; and they truly show the term ‘non-violent’ offender is a misnomer.”
The District Attorney’s office has filed four counts against Dukes related to firearms possession, including one of being a convicted felon in possession of a gun. He was also charged with one count of possession of cocaine for sale. Dukes’ bail was set at $105,000.
Guest on February 24, 2010, at 12:42PM – #1
A violent offender is arrested after more than two dozen previous arrests for assault, drug dealing and gun possession.
LAPD reaction: is that these arrests show that the term ‘non-violent’ offender is a "misnomer.”
Huh?
Doesn't this actually show that the LAPD has a serious problem making convictable arrests of violent offenders?
Guest on February 24, 2010, at 05:29PM – #2
in skid row ,, they seem to think no one is watching what they are doing.... there are cameras everywhere and there is plenty of video proof once they get busted...
about time SRO was raided... I heard this guy lived at that building since it opened and there were many complaints to the management about him what, took SRO Housing Corporation so long getting rid of him? Scales ? Geez!!
Guest on February 24, 2010, at 10:24PM – #3
Skid row's a little safer tonight, good job.
Guest on February 25, 2010, at 01:04AM – #4
Didn't Andy Bales , CEO of Union Rescue Mission , state that credible folks were telling him about the shabbily run hotels in Skid Row in an editorial, and about drug dealers forcing residents to work for the drug dealers, after Andy Bales refused to sign a letter sent by the non-profits in skid row to get rid of the 50 police officers known as Safer Cities Initiative? As a result the ceos of both Skid Row Housing Trust and Single Room Occupancy Housing Corporation claimed that those allegations were wrong and that their Permanent Supportive Housing Works. Then the LAPD made this bust..
Does anyone recall where this was read at?
General Jeff on February 25, 2010, at 02:00AM – #5
Rev. Andy Bales responded to an article in the LA Weekly titled "Homeless Advocates send request for easement in Skid Row" by Dennis Romero on February 2nd (less than a month ago). I believe that was the title. If not, it's pretty darn close.
Anyway, I have many questions regarding "the letter" in that article, but what I particularly find odd and am reminded by the article is how the non-profit organizations are constantly referred to in the media as "homeless advocates" as if they are only looking out for the best interest of the Skid Row residents when we all know that is not the case. In fact, in this particular article, they are referred to as "25 leading homeless advocates". What in the (world) does that mean? Leading the homeless to where?
How is it possible for the Skid Row landlords to represent the Skid Row residents? I've never heard of any landlords anywhere fairly representing their tenants. And definitely not in Skid Row!
It is time for the Skid Row non-profits to stop trying to speak for the Skid Row community. We can intelligently and articulately speak for ourselves now. Maybe not in years past, but we do not need them speaking for us anymore. Obviously, based on this story ( and many other examples of mismanagement), they can't even represent themselves very well.
Also, it's funny how I never heard anything about SRO Housing's "in-house" security staff in this article. What have they been doing all this time?
It sounds like LAPD handled this all by themselves.
Guest on February 25, 2010, at 04:18PM – #6
The point I was trying to make about "non-violent" offender in this case was that due to the fact this arrestee's only conviction was for welfare fraud, he would be considered a non-violent offender by the State, had he been in prison. He would have been seen as a good candidate for early release.
So by making this point, I was hoping more people might recognize, that when it comes to criminals, non-violent one day can be quite violent the next.
On the issue raised by another commenter that the police should have done a better job getting convictions on the man: First, the police make arrests, and prosecutors decide whether to take to trial. Their burden of proof is much higher to get someone found guilty. Moreover, there are other reasons arrestees are released without trial: Victims can't be found or refuse to prosecute. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in Skidrow.
Mr. Dukes has skated for years, despite a long list of arrests for violent crime. He, his behavior as a drug dealer, and the guns in his room were a ticking time bomb for a violent crime.
Thanks to a public tip and these detectives' good work, perhaps Skidrow will be safe from Mr. Dukes for a few years.
Lt. Paul Vernon
Guest on February 27, 2010, at 10:35PM – #7
I hope activist Don Garza comments on this. He used to live in the Southern Hotel and he no doubt has a unique and insightful perspective on the story.
Guest on February 28, 2010, at 02:04AM – #8
I hear activist Don Garza is living a new life in a less stressful environment.. I spoke with him just yesterday and he said that he is on a jubilee year... whatever that means.. and doesn't have an opinion on SRO one way or another. He is looking slimmer and his web business is taking off . What a turnaround; and all he did was move out of that hotel.
He did tell me that this was just the beginning of raids on people living in that hotel and others in skid row. Again , whatever that means.
Guest on February 28, 2010, at 09:31AM – #9
Yes, the great Don Garza sure is looking good! I think having a jubilee year means he's happy. He's done much for the downtown community and he deserves happiness.
Still, I hope he posts about the Southern. He could give us an insiders perspective. What a shame Blogdowntown didn't interview him for this story. This blog seems to be more interested in new places to eat rather than hard news.
Guest on February 28, 2010, at 10:40AM – #10
Hey! Someone said he inherited over 250 acres of prime real estate in Texas. There supposedly is oil on this property and he is living off of the residuals from that oil.
Just something I heard.
Guest on February 28, 2010, at 11:06AM – #11
It would be great if that rumor is true! It would prove that there really can be a good life after living in the hellish Southern Hotel. Still, oil or not I hope Don stays downtown. We need him here!
Isn't the Southern Hotel the place that shut off the air conditioning for the residents and left them to roast during a heat wave?