RESEDA : Deputies May Have Prevented Slaying

Sheriff’s deputies unexpectedly stumbled upon an attempted killing when they showed up to search a Reseda house for drugs, authorities said Tuesday. Two men were arrested.

Acting on an anonymous tip, narcotics investigators served a search warrant at a house in the 18700 block of Erwin Street at 6:10 p.m. Monday, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Gabe Ramirez said.

Steven C. Scott, 32, opened the front door before deputies knocked, Ramirez said. Sheriff’s deputies backed Scott into the house, Ramirez said, where they found 25-year-old Steve Morrison of Palm Springs kneeling in a corner with his hands tied behind his back. A resident of the house, identified as Edward Howlett, 27, was standing above Morrison with a handgun, Ramirez said. Howlett threw the gun across the floor and surrendered, he said.

Morrison told deputies that Howlett invited him to the house to “do some partying” because Howlett was soon being sent to prison. Howlett and Scott allegedly overpowered Morrison when he arrived.

Morrison told investigators that Howlett was about to kill him and dump his body, Ramirez said. Scott and Howlett allegedly beat him with a club, which was found in the house along with a rifle.

Detectives said an argument a week ago between Morrison and a female friend of Howlett’s may have been the cause of the incident.

Deputies found three-quarters of an ounce of both methamphetamine and marijuana in the house, sheriff’s officials said. Scott and Howlett were both arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnaping and robbery. Each is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail, and narcotics charges are pending.