POT CLUB WORKER DODGES BULLETS

Masked Robber Sprays Employee's Car With Gunfire In Cherryland

CHERRYLAND -- An employee of a marijuana dispensary narrowly escaped
with his life after a gunman opened fire as he waited outside the
establishment for co-workers to arrive.

The employee, whom authorities declined to identify, was sitting
inside his car in the rear parking lot of the Collective Cannabis
Club at 21222 Mission Boulevard on Tuesday morning when a masked
gunman appeared, said Lt. Dale Amaral, spokesman for the Alameda
County Sheriff's Department.

Amaral said the worker, who was recently hired and did not have a key
to get inside the establishment, saw the masked man walking toward
his car and immediately tried to drive out of the parking lot.

"The victim decides 'I'm getting out of here,' because he can see the
gun," Amaral said.

As the worker sped through the parking lot, the gunman opened fire,
striking the employee's car at least four times and narrowly missing
the driver.

"He's very lucky," said Amaral, who was unable to say how many shots
were fired.

Amaral said investigators have little to go on, because the gunman
was wearing a dark ski-mask. Amaral said the man is simply described
as being about 5-foot-8.

The shooting is the latest incident at one of the six clubs in the
county that have law enforcement officials fearing the worst. The
clubs are located in Ashland, Cherryland and San Lorenzo.

"It's a big concern," said Amaral, who called the six clubs in the
unincorporated area "drug dens."

"The nature of the business they conduct attracts predators," he added.

In this year alone, there have been six incidents reported at the
clubs in the county, said Sgt. Kelly Miles of the department's
special investigation's unit.

Miles said that this year alone, one club has been robbed, two
patrons have been robbed and two clubs have been burglarized.

"It's a big problem that we've anticipated," Miles said. "We'd like
to deter them. But unfortunately, these clubs attract that kind of activity."

Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker was troubled to learn
about Tuesday's shooting at the Collective Cannabis Club, which is in
her supervisorial district.

"It's unfortunate to have incidents like this happen," she said.

However, Lai-Bitker said county supervisors recently approved an
ordinance that she believes will place more stringent regulations on
the clubs, thus reducing crime.

Under the ordinance that was approved by supervisors this month, the
county will limit the number of outlets to three, closing four of the
existing clubs and opening one in Castro Valley.

Operators, under the new law, would be selected after a close permit
review process set up by Sheriff Charles Plummer, she added.

The clubs also would operate under stricter regulations, such as
banning people younger than 18 from the premises and prohibiting the
use of the product inside the clubs.

"Hopefully, with all these regulations in place, we'll be able to
avoid these incidents," Lai-Bitker said.

"We want regulations that will promote a better operation of these businesses."