Sheriff’s Dept. Blames LAPD for Man’s Release
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday blamed the Los Angeles Police Department for the mistaken release of a suspected drug kingpin arrested in the largest cocaine seizure in Long Beach history.
The Sheriff’s Department said that Salvador Gomez was “identified for release by LAPD” last Thursday. As a result, sheriff’s officials released Gomez from the Parker Center Video Arraignment Court, where he was being held along with five other suspects in the case.
LAPD officials, however, said that Gomez was let go because of a paperwork error made by L.A. Impact, a drug enforcement task force that handled the case. LAPD Lt. Anthony Alba said somehow the paperwork that shows cause to hold a suspect did not accompany Gomez to court. Officials now believe Gomez has fled to Mexico.
He was arrested as part of a two-month investigation conducted by Long Beach and Montebello police. Nearly half a ton of cocaine and $1.5 million in cash were seized. The other suspects are being held on $20 million bail each.
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