Deputies Seize Items From O.J. Simpson

Carrying out a court order, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies hauled away boxes of items from O.J. Simpson’s Brentwood estate Friday, but were unable to find several big-ticket pieces, including the football legend’s Heisman Trophy and his Hall of Fame ring.

Simpson was officially notified of the order at 9 a.m., when the deputies arrived at his gate accompanied by two moving trucks.

Officials said he maintained a businesslike demeanor throughout the six-hour proceedings as he helped identify the possessions that were to be removed.

“It’s been pretty uneventful,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Stoneman. “He’s been very cooperative. We couldn’t have asked for more.”

Superior Court Hiroshi Fujisaki ordered Simpson to turn over the property in response to requests by attorneys for and Fred Goldman and the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson.

They won a civil trial verdict in February holding Simpson liable for the 1994 slayings of Ronald Lyle Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.

The items will partially satisfy the $33.5-million judgment against Simpson.

With three police barricades to keep the media and a handful of curiosity seekers at bay, two private moving trucks pulled into position--one in Simpson’s driveway and one on the street.

Deputies spent the day asking Simpson about specific items, marked them into inventory and then directed movers to load them into boxes and onto the trucks, Stoneman said.

Among the items recovered were Simpson’s golf clubs, a fox fur coat (valued at $26,500), dozens of artworks, furniture and scores of football memorabilia.

Numerous items on Fujisaki’s lists were missing, including an Andy Warhol serigraph portrait of Simpson (valued at $25,000), a $64,000 Chevy Suburban and several pieces of jewelry.

Although deputies searched the house for the missing items, they were not required to investigate why the possessions were missing.

“We’re not quizzing anybody,” Stoneman said. “What stuff we don’t find is between Mr. Simpson and the court.”

Simpson has seven days to explain to the court why certain items were not available, Stoneman said.

By the end of the afternoon, one of the trucks pulled away loaded with wooden crates of belongings, while the second truck remained empty, officials said.

Simpson, meanwhile, left to go golfing. “Must be loaner clubs,” one deputy quipped.