MISTAKEN IDENTITY

A Simple Drug Sweep Last Week Led To A Nipomo Man's Arrest, And Plenty Of
Unanswered Questions.

NIPOMO - A Nipomo couple is outraged by the treatment they received by
Sheriff's deputies in an apparent drug sweep last Wednesday on the mesa.

Elizabeth Brown, 24, said she and her husband Robert, 36, were riding in a
conservative looking mini-van when they were pulled over on Highway 1 near
Callendar Road by two marked Sheriff's units and three unmarked cars. Ten
law enforcement officers were present as the couple was questioned for over
an hour, while friends and neighbors drove by the impromptu gathering.

"I think it was a violation of my civil rights," said Robert. "It was such
a shock, something you see in the movies."

After being pulled over, they were informed by an officer that they were
driving over the speed limit at 60 mph. Elizabeth said they were going 45.

Despite presenting valid insurance, drivers license and registration, their
car was searched. Robert was given two drug tests on the scene. Then, bound
in handcuffs, he was taken to the South County Sheriff's Substation and
given a urine test. He said he passed all three. "It was scary," said
Robert. "It was total humiliation," added Elizabeth. Their four-year-old
son, and 18-month-old daughter were present and both crying as their Dad
was taken away by the authorities.

"As soon as I said I was going to get a lawyer, the officer slammed his
hand on the hood and said, 'you're going in." said Robert. "I thought you
were allowed to give your opinion. They took me to jail (the substation).
They didn't read me my rights. If I didn't cooperate with them they were
going to take me to San Luis Obispo jail and not let me out until I went
before a judge."

Sgt. Robin Weckerly, who is in charge of the Sheriff's Department's
Narcotics Unit, said Brown failed the drug test and they plan to ask the
District Attorney's Office to file charges he was under the influence of a
narcotic substance.

Elizabeth said officers threatened to arrest her for child endangerment
because their four-year-old boy wasn't riding in a child seat (children age
four or older are not required to ride in a safety seat).

In addition, the couple was concerned about the arrival of their son at a
bus stop in Nipomo at 3:30 p.m. The deputies allegedly threatened to force
Elizabeth - six months pregnant - to have to walk to the bus stop, over
six miles, because she did not have her driver's license with her. The
eventually relented.

The pair said they have no idea why they were pulled over. "I just want
people to be aware (that something like this can happen)," said Elizabeth.

The Browns said they have never been involved in drug activity. "Drugs are
not the thing for anybody to do," said Robert. "I don't even take aspirin."

"He's not going to screw up a $23 an hour job for drugs," said his wife.
Robert is a refinery maintenance worker for Timec.

The Browns said they have discussed the matter with a Los Angeles attorney
and plan to pursue the matter through legal means. "What our lawyer told us
is they (the authorities) have their own set of rules," said Elizabeth.
"They can pull us over any time they want. This has totally stressed me out."

The couple said they saw several cars pulled over throughout the day in
Nipomo. Lt. Larry Davis said that a sweep was conducted by the Sheriff's
Narcotics Unit. "From what I'm told they didn't get too much in the way of
drugs, but I heard the Border Patrol scooped up a few of our illegal alien
friends from south of the border."

Weckerly stopped short of calling it a sweep. "We just stopped a few cars
to see what was going on."

She said she preferred not to comment because of an ongoing investigation.
She did reveal that 10 people were arrested, including five illegal aliens
and five others on a variety of charges, including narcotics.

When asked why people were pulled over, she said their units detained
motorists who had been speeding. "Everybody was stopped for probable
cause." She declined to say how many cars were pulled over. She also said
the Browns were not cited for speeding.

In other drug enforcement related news relating to Nipomo, four people were
arrested Thursday as a result of an investigation conducted by the Santa
Maria Police Department.

According to Sgt. Ken George, they have been investigating the possibility
that a group of people have been moving methamphetamine from Nipomo to
Santa Maria for sale.

George said they have been conducting lengthy surveillance at a residence
on Black Sage Circle in the Black Lake area.

Watching vehicles come and go, detectives followed a vehicle drive by
Stella Sollami, 27, of Arroyo Grande. Detectives, who held a search warrant
for her, made a traffic stop as she entered Santa Maria and arrested her on
suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and
possession of methamphetamine.

Officers then stopped another vehicle, driven by Joseph Dondero, 34, listed
as a transient, at U.S. 101 and Donovan.

Dondero, who alleged attempted to flee on foot, was arrested on suspicion
of possessing more than two ounces of meth.