Editor’s note: The following letter was addressed to Sheriff Leroy Baca and to Captain Tom Martin of the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff’s Station
This was a sad day for our community. Today, Memorial Day, at about noon, myself and several other residents of the Zuma Bay Villas were entrapped and then cited by Deputy Nada (435253) and his partner, Deputy Ellrott (480212) and CSO Monico (459750) for violation of 21460(a) CVC (driving left of the double yellow) while attempting to enter our complex on Westward Beach Road. No officer would explain why we would be cited for following the instructions of the officers who had blocked access to our complex. Upon request, no officer would disclose the name of the watch commander. Upon request, no officer provided identification. The following facts are supported by evidence.
Resident’s access to the Zuma Bay Villas was blocked by the Sheriff’s vehicles parked in front of the left turn lane at this time. The cited vehicles were beckoned to by the named officers who were stationed in the center of the roadway and motioned the vehicles to cross the double yellow line, which they did in single file. Several witnesses observed this It is common practice for Sheriff deputies to divert traffic across the double yellow line when high traffic volume blocks access to residents. Rousting and entrapment are wrong and illegal for whatever purpose. The abuse of discretion and authority entrusted to the Sheriff’s department by the community is a serious offence and indicates a serious problem with command.
I therefore request a formal investigation into the facts and circumstances related to this incident. I request that a copy of this investigation and its results be made part of the personnel record for each officer involved. Those of us victimized by this abuse of authority will be contacting our County Board of Supervisors, the Malibu City Council, and the Malibu mayor’s office to request an independent investigation in order to establish some degree of accountability and to prevent this abuse in the future.
As a member of the community of Malibu for several years I would expect better behavior from our fine officers. This abuse should not be condoned nor permitted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, especially to law-abiding members of this community.
Stephen S. Wolfson