09-11-2009, 10:51 PM
The Los Angeles Police have arrested one man in connection with a series of
violent robberies at several medical marijuana dispensaries in the San
Fernando Valley. And now they are asking the public's help to find six other
suspects.
On Thursday afternoon, police released photos and video of the suspects that
were captured on surveillance cameras during the course of the robberies.
Over the past four months, the gunmen walked into three clinics posing as
customers. The showed employees their guns. In two of the three robberies,
they got away with both cash and cannabis.
"The crimes have increased in frequency in the levels of violence that have
been used against the victims," said LAPD Lieutenant Stephen Carmona.
The first robbery took place on May 23, in the 6400 block of Topanga Canyon
Boulevard in Woodland Hills. The gunmen pistol-whipped several employees
there. One had to be hospitalized.
The second robbery occurred on Aug. 5 in the 8200 block of Canoga Avenue.
The robbers fired two shots but no one was injured.
And on Aug. 15, two gunmen walked into a clinic in the 23000 block of
Ventura Boulevard -- one began firing off his gun and hit a clerk in the
back. The bullet pierced his back and lodged in his arm, where it will
remain forever, according to Topanga area Detective Pam Pitcher.
The robbery suspects fled that scene in a burgundy Mercedes, which police
later tracked down, leading them to arrest 20-year-old Nicholas Bradford
Brown. Brown has been charged with attempted murder and robbery and faces
other felony charges, said police.
Police describe five of the suspects as black men between 18-30 years old.
The sixth man is described as white or Hispanic, about 5 feet 10 inches
tall, in his early 20s.
Police are asking anyone with information about the crimes or the people who
committed them, to call Detective Pam Pitcher at Topanga Area Robbery
Division at 1-818-756-3524; or a 24-hour toll-free tip line at
1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247); or text "crimes" from a cell phone, beginning
all messages with "LAPD." Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Read the story on NBC News and see the surveillance photos / video
violent robberies at several medical marijuana dispensaries in the San
Fernando Valley. And now they are asking the public's help to find six other
suspects.
On Thursday afternoon, police released photos and video of the suspects that
were captured on surveillance cameras during the course of the robberies.
Over the past four months, the gunmen walked into three clinics posing as
customers. The showed employees their guns. In two of the three robberies,
they got away with both cash and cannabis.
"The crimes have increased in frequency in the levels of violence that have
been used against the victims," said LAPD Lieutenant Stephen Carmona.
The first robbery took place on May 23, in the 6400 block of Topanga Canyon
Boulevard in Woodland Hills. The gunmen pistol-whipped several employees
there. One had to be hospitalized.
The second robbery occurred on Aug. 5 in the 8200 block of Canoga Avenue.
The robbers fired two shots but no one was injured.
And on Aug. 15, two gunmen walked into a clinic in the 23000 block of
Ventura Boulevard -- one began firing off his gun and hit a clerk in the
back. The bullet pierced his back and lodged in his arm, where it will
remain forever, according to Topanga area Detective Pam Pitcher.
The robbery suspects fled that scene in a burgundy Mercedes, which police
later tracked down, leading them to arrest 20-year-old Nicholas Bradford
Brown. Brown has been charged with attempted murder and robbery and faces
other felony charges, said police.
Police describe five of the suspects as black men between 18-30 years old.
The sixth man is described as white or Hispanic, about 5 feet 10 inches
tall, in his early 20s.
Police are asking anyone with information about the crimes or the people who
committed them, to call Detective Pam Pitcher at Topanga Area Robbery
Division at 1-818-756-3524; or a 24-hour toll-free tip line at
1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247); or text "crimes" from a cell phone, beginning
all messages with "LAPD." Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Read the story on NBC News and see the surveillance photos / video
