Assembly Suspends Security Officer Held on Drug Charges

A sergeant-at-arms for the state Assembly was suspended indefinitely Monday following his arrest Friday in Encino on charges of possession of cocaine for sale, an Assembly official said.

Donald Perry Thompson, 44, of Santa Monica was put on indefinite unpaid leave until further details on the incident are learned, said Bob Connelly, chief administrative officer of the Assembly.

“It’s always sad when these things happen,” said Connelly, who described Thompson as a veteran of more than 10 years in the Assembly. “As far as I know, he’s had no problems in the past.”

Police would not comment on the case Monday, which was turned over to narcotics officers following the arrest of Thompson and Nicholas Robert Brown, 49, of Los Angeles, who also faces drug charges. Thompson and Brown each posted $15,000 bail and are scheduled to appear in court May 4.

The men were arrested late Friday near the corner of Yarmouth Avenue and Ventura Boulevard in a state-owned Cadillac following a tip from a Neighborhood Watch group. Sources said that an undisclosed amount of cash and more than 30 grams of cocaine were allegedly discovered in the vehicle.

Sworn state peace officers, sergeants-at-arms provide security for meetings and hearings of the Assembly. There are about 80 sergeants-at-arms in the Legislature.

As one of three officers assigned to the Los Angeles Assembly Rules Committee office, Thompson’s job as sergeant-at-arms included occasional driving for Assembly Speaker Willie Brown and other members of the Assembly when they are in Los Angeles.

Connelly and a spokesman for Speaker Brown said they had no information on Nicholas Robert Brown, other than he does not work for the Assembly.