Thirteen Arrested by Task Force at 7th and Main
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
Police tape blocks off the intersection of 7th and Main on May 21, the night a 50-year-old man was shot at the corner.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — A task force focused on narcotics sales near the corner of 7th and Main early Tuesday morning netted the arrests of three dealers, seven buyers and three others with outstanding warrants.
The special enforcement action was taken in response to three shootings that have taken place at the corner since May. "This is only one of a number of things we've done," explained Lieutenant Paul Vernon, head of detectives for Central Division.
Arrested for possession with the intent to sell were Kyle Smith, 20, of Long Beach; Deondre Washington, 29, who claimed to be homeless; and Charles Madison, 63, of South Los Angeles.
All had prior felony convictions. Vernon described Smith and Washington as being members of rival gangs. Madison has a 27-page rap sheet, which includes both drugs and burglary.
“These arrests confirm several things we had surmised: the drug dealers are not living downtown; gang rivalries are often left at home; and the sellers are career criminals,” Lt. Vernon said.
While he acknowledged that other dealers may quickly move in to fill the void left by these arrests, Vernon said that he hoped there might be a change. "Sometimes, all you have to do is go and find two or three people in an area like this who are causing the trouble," he explained.
After making the three arrests, undercover officers positioned themselves on the corner selling fake narcotics. They made seven arrests, either for possession or attempted possession.
“It’s against the law to solicit to buy illicit drugs, so this is a way for us to cut into the drug buyers’ population, too,” Lt. Vernon said. “If they become afraid the next dealer is a cop, they may go somewhere else.”
No guns were found on any of the 13 arrested.
In comments on a story about the corner published Monday on blogdowntown, readers had expressed frustration that arrests like the ones made Tuesday had not taken place. Vernon said today that the department will continue its efforts on the corner.
In that earlier story, Vernon had pointed the finger at the Huntington Hotel as a source of much of the corner's issues. None of the men arrested had a connection to the hotel, and a check of the hotel registry showed only one guest on parole or probation. "That’s a good bit of news for all of us. It shows the hotel has tightened up its security operations and is not now as much a harbor for criminals,” Lt. Vernon said.
Brandy Zzyzx on July 28, 2010, at 06:07PM – #1
I am so glad that the cops are taking action on this. It is good for the both the residents and businesses located on that and around that corner.
Dixon on July 28, 2010, at 06:24PM – #2
No, the Huntington is not the problem. The Cecil, on the other hand, is full of dealers and users. The hotel security keeps the problem off the sidewalk in front of the place, which is why the other areas around 7th and Main are so active.
Now that it's hot, here's what the loft users will do--they'll either have homeless users they know act as runners for them, they will score on the street elsewhere, or they will have the dealer (or his agent) deliver to them personally.
Anthony Costantino on July 28, 2010, at 06:35PM – #3
That may be true, Fallen, but if you can take a bit of the violent crime out of it, it's an improvement. Drug use will always exist.
Guest on July 28, 2010, at 07:00PM – #4
Do this once a week for two months and the problem goes away for quite a while.
derblut on July 28, 2010, at 07:25PM – #5
Ask and ye shall receive.
Sounds like Lieutenant Vernon and team are very much on top of things.
Karin Liljegren on July 28, 2010, at 09:13PM – #6
thank you for a concise and informative piece and great job LAPD
interesting set of facts.
I'm wondering how many of the buyers are loft dwellers. I never thought many - but I don't really know. It's another benefit of medical marajuana. I would think that most loft dwellers that use recreational drugs have a prescription or are one friend away from a prescription. No need to buy on the street.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on July 28, 2010, at 10:17PM – #7
Random fact: If you're buying at 7th and Main, it's apparently almost always rock cocaine.
Dixon on July 28, 2010, at 10:29PM – #8
Yes, it's mostly crack, although some dealers are starting to carry $20 and $50 bags of methamphetamine along with the coke.
Loft dwellers aren't buying their weed off the downtown streets. The street pot sold in nickel and dime plastic bags is not good quality. The buyers get the potent stuff from a connection within one of the loft buildings or with a medical recommendation for marijuana from one of the city's dispensaries.
That weed sold near San Julian Park by guys who chant "weed, weed, weed"? It's crap. I know. I've tried it.
Guest on July 28, 2010, at 11:31PM – #9
I think Obama is about to sign a bill that will do away with mandatory minimums for crack cocaine. In the past (as of tomorrow) a few grams of crack would get you five years. It would take 500 grams of powdered cocaine to get the same sentence. It was a ratio of 100 to 1, the new bill will reduce this (after a comprise) to 18 to 1. I wonder what sentence these guys will get.
Guest on July 29, 2010, at 12:23PM – #10
Karin, that was so cute!
Seriously!
Guest on July 29, 2010, at 01:06PM – #11
i am so proud of the police effort here----i want to hug the cops DT! because they are awsome but also because many are cute...and i'm a single lady...just sayin'
seriously i dont want to pass judgement on the users or even dealers--but they were ruining the vibe on this particular part of the street--making it feel very unsafe to walk by any time of day...i feel safer now.
skidrowdude on July 29, 2010, at 01:19PM – #12
Hell Yes!!!! THANK YOU OFFICER VERNON and all LAPD. I am so happy to hear you guys (ladies) are taking this seriously. Please keep up the vigilant work, and maybe look at 5th and Broadway next... Downtown is such a great place to live with a little support from LAPD.
film rob on July 29, 2010, at 02:33PM – #13
"kick ass sea bass" You guys rock!
Chris Loos on July 29, 2010, at 04:12PM – #14
"Drug use will always exist."
"Do this once a week for two months and the problem goes away for quite a while."
Its like squeezing a balloon. The problem will always be there, but if you squeeze Downtown enough, it will stop happening there and move elsewhere. Sad, but this is as good as it gets, and frankly- enough for me.
ed27 on July 29, 2010, at 05:58PM – #15
Sounds like Fallen Angel needs some help. I suggest the Share Center...
Dixon on July 29, 2010, at 08:43PM – #16
Thanks, ed27, but I'm sober now. I plan to stay that way.
Guest on July 30, 2010, at 02:05AM – #17
The LAPD needs to do a similar investigation / crackdown on the dealing going on on 5th Street, between Spring and Broadway. Everyday dealers openly advertise pills they have for sale. It shouldn't be too hard to get these guys off the streets.
Laldava02 on July 30, 2010, at 10:05AM – #18
Agree with guest #17. Just a saw a blatant drug deal near 5th and Broadway just outside of Pershing Square last night while walking with a friend who's not from the area. This was during the performance in the park no less. Hopefully we can clear this activity out of the area sooner than later.
It's better than it was 10 years ago, but there are still many hotspots that could really use extra attention from the police and BID. 7th and Main is definitely one of them, while 5th near Broadway is another.
Guest on July 30, 2010, at 10:54AM – #19
“These arrests confirm several things we had surmised: the drug dealers are not living downtown; gang rivalries are often left at home; and the sellers are career criminals,” Lt. Vernon said.
The default response is to celebrate that drug deals and drug dealers like these are busted. In other words, we're only furthering a culture of crime and enforcement. Not much to celebrate, really.
Changing the paradigm of what creates "career criminals" may be a bigger challenge but really is the only goal to truly celebrate. Otherwise, we're only furthering the cultures of fear, phobia and throwing even more money at the police / jail complex.
Guest on July 30, 2010, at 05:28PM – #20
Don Garza has been writing about drug selling etc in Skid Row/SRO for years - Mostly to deaf ears. IT was all true. Every bit he wrote about it have turned out correct. Kudos 2 Don ofr at least speaking up.
Guest on July 30, 2010, at 06:25PM – #21
Keep it up LAPD. This is GREAT news! Thank you so much! Please keep doing this!
Guest on July 31, 2010, at 12:27AM – #22
Yeah, keep on filling up overcrowded jails where sentences are only a fraction of the assigned penalty anyway.
This system has been broken forever.