LAPD Seek Help Identifying Medical Marijuana Dispensary Robbers NR09443ah

San Fernando Valley: Los Angeles police have arrested a man in connection with a rash of violent medical marijuana dispensary robberies and are asking for the public’s help in identifying a group of suspects also responsible for the robberies and whose images were caught on surveillance camera.

Over the past four months, a group of suspects have targeted and robbed several medical marijuana clinics throughout the San Fernando Valley.  “The crimes have increased in frequency in the levels of violence that have been used against the victims,” said Lieutenant Stephen Carmona.  

In each robbery, the suspects walked into the clinic posing as customers, showed the clerk a handgun and demanded money.  The suspects then fled the location with an unspecified amount of cash and marijuana.

The first in these series of crimes took place on May 23, 2009 in the 6400 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills.  A group of men entered the facility and pistol whipped several employees.  One of the employees required hospitalization detectives said.  A large amount of marijuana and cash was taken.  The suspects fled in two separate vehicles described as a silver 4-door Honda Accord with a sunroof and a silver 2-door Mercedes coupe.  The second in the series occurred on August 5, 2009, in the 8200 block of Canoga Avenue.  A group of robbers entered the clinic and stole and undisclosed amount of money and cannabis.   During the robbery, the suspects fired two shots.  Miraculously, no one was injured.  After wards, the bandits took off in an unidentified dark green 4-door sedan.  A third robbery happened on August 15, 2009, in the 23000 block of Ventura Boulevard.  During this incident, a pair of suspects walked into the dispensary and displayed a handgun.  One of the suspects fired a round at the clerk striking him in the back.  The employee was taken to a hospital listed in stable condition.  No property was taken, and the suspects drove off in a burgundy 4-door CLS500 Mercedes.

The burgundy Mercedes used in the Ventura Boulevard robbery was captured on video surveillance.  The video and aggressive enforcement efforts helped detectives track down the vehicle.  On September 2, 2009, police from Topanga Area spotted the vehicle in Woodland Hills, conducted surveillance and arrested a suspect identified as 20-year-old Nicholas Bradford Brown.  He was booked and charged with attempt murder, robbery and faces other felony charges.

The suspects are described only as male Blacks, between 18-30 years of age.  One of the suspects is a male White or Hispanic in his early 20s, stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 260 pounds.  The suspects are considered armed and dangerous.

Investigators are also asking for additional victims and/or witnesses to come forward to help solve these crimes.

Still photos are available through Media Relations Section and video footage could be obtained by logging on to www.lapdtv.org.

Anyone with information about these crimes is urged to call Topanga Area Detective Pam Pitcher at 818-756-4820 or 818-756-3524.  During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  Tipsters may remain anonymous.