Simi Valley : 225 Weapons Seized in Record Raid

An arsenal of knives, grenades and machine guns uncovered last week at a Simi Valley residence was the largest collection of weaponry ever seized during a drug raid in Ventura County.

Police said they found 125 firearms and 100 bladed weapons--along with $750,000 worth of cocaine--in an upstairs bedroom when they stormed a house and arrested Gardner Ernest Flockhart, 31, a suspected high-level cocaine dealer.

Flockhart and Robert Dale Lloyd, 27, were charged Thursday with one count each of possession with intent to distribute about one kilogram of cocaine, Assistant U.S. Atty. Sally Meloch said. Other charges may be filed in connection with the remaining cocaine and the weapons, she said.

Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury said it was the most extensive collection found during a drug raid in the county.

The seizure culminated a six-month investigation by local law enforcement agencies into a ring suspected of distributing cocaine to residents of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

Flockhart was convicted of possession of narcotics for sale in Los Angeles County in 1986.

As a convicted felon, it is illegal for Flockhart to possess any firearms, Bowman said. If convicted in federal court, Flockhart could receive a 40-year prison sentence, Bowman said.

Among the 125 firearms were 12 illegal weapons. They included four semiautomatic Uzi-type weapons, which had been converted to fully automatic machine guns. Some guns had been outfitted with silencers, five rifles were fitted with illegal short barrels, Bowman said.

The departments involved in the investigation stand to gain $700,000 to $1 million through state asset-forfeiture laws from the house, guns, six vehicles and other belongings.