NAACP Questions Arrest in ‘Rolex Bandit’ Case

The president of the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP said Saturday he will conduct an investigation to determine if the arrest last week of a West Los Angeles computer firm manager for attempted robbery in Malibu violated the man’s civil rights.

Frederick Lewis, 30, was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon and is suspected of being “the Rolex Bandit,” who has committed 15 watch robberies, said Malibu Sheriff’s Lt. John Love.

Lewis was arrested late Monday, Love said, after Bill Baroodi of Malibu told police a man had confronted him with a gun outside his condominium and tried to steal his Rolex watch, threatening, “I’ll blow your head off.” One shot was fired into the air, but Baroodi fought with the assailant and the man ran away.

After the attempted theft at 10:50 p.m. Monday, Baroodi gave police the description of “a stocky black man with short hair,” Love said. Lewis was arrested a half hour later on Pacific Coast Highway, about a half-mile from Baroodi’s Coastline Drive home, the lieutenant said.

Lewis was not armed at the time of the arrest, Love said, but authorities are conducting tests for any gunpowder residue on his skin.

Raymond Johnson of the NAACP said Lewis’ arrest was based on a “vague description.”

“There is the feeling that he was picked up because he’s black,” Johnson said. “It could have been any black person that sheriffs could have picked up on that evening because the description was so vague. Under that description I probably would have been arrested also.”

Lewis told police he had been jogging in the area and was walking to his car when sheriffs’ deputies apprehended him, Love said. Baroodi said he identified Lewis that night as the man who tried to rob him.

Lewis was released Tuesday morning on $3,000 bail, Love said.

On Friday, sheriffs’ detectives called Lewis back and asked him to come in for questioning. Lewis was arrested shortly after being questioned and Malibu Municipal Judge Lawrence J. Mira increased his bail to $463,000, Love said.

Love said the high bail figure is intended to ensure that Lewis does not leave the area and that the increase stemmed from the contention that he may have committed the other 15 robberies.

Johnson said Lewis, who is area manager of a Newport Beach-based computer sales company, had a good job and would not have been likely to leave the area. He maintains that the bail is excessive.

Love would not disclose details of the investigation except to say that Lewis had made suspicious statements. Love also said that Lewis was wearing a denim jacket, tennis shoes and two pairs of jeans at the time of his arrest and that his clothing “could possibly have something to do with “ significant evidence in the case.

Lewis’ sister, Ann Johnson, of Monroe, La., said her brother regularly went jogging in Malibu.

“From what I can understand, it seems to be a case of his being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.

Lewis will be arraigned Monday in Malibu Municipal Court.