Los Angeles: On Tuesday, June 25, 2002, at 4:30 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) and Narcotics Division personnel served two search warrants at 3937 and 3945 South Western Avenue in Southwest Area. These locations are abandoned businesses, which have been fortified by violent gang members that are located directly across from Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Elementary School.

In addition, representatives from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Department of Building and Safety and the Department of Water and Power responded to the scene to conduct an inspection for their continuing abatement and criminal investigations against the property owner, and they also disconnected electrical services that had been illegally connected to these buildings.

It should be noted that over the last one and a half years, LAPD Narcotics Division personnel have served three search warrants at these locations with the assistance of LAPD SWAT. Also, within the last few months LAPD SWAT personnel responded to these locations and took a gang member into custody after he shot-up the area with a firearm.

As a result of the search warrant service on June 25, 2002, a total of 10 adult suspects were arrested from inside these fortified businesses on various narcotics offenses. Additionally, Narcotics Division personnel recovered a fully loaded .38 caliber handgun, a .22 caliber sawed-off rifle and seized 291 gross grams of marijuana, 12 gross grams of rock cocaine and $600.00 in U.S. currency.

If you have any additional questions regarding this incident, please contact Lieutenant Al Jackson of Narcotics Division at 213-473-4804.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.