Culver City Official Apologizes to Police

Culver City Councilman Albert Vera Sr. has publicly apologized for suggesting that local police planted narcotics on his son.

“I apologize for statements made by me that drugs were planted on my son or in my vehicle by members of the department,” Vera wrote in a letter Tuesday addressed to the Culver City Police Department. “I know that was not the case.”

Vera’s apology concerned the Aug. 7 traffic stop of his son, Albert P. Vera Jr., who was later charged with misdemeanor drug possession.

“My son will have to deal with his own legal and personal difficulties, but I sincerely hope that we can continue the strong relationship of respect that I have always shared with the department,” Vera stated.

He offered to appear before a meeting of members of the Police Department.

A copy of the letter was provided to The Times by the Culver City Police Officers Assn. Vera could not be reached for comment.

The councilman’s apology follows the announcement Monday by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca that he was conducting a criminal probe to determine whether the elder Vera interfered in the investigation of his son. Baca said the investigation was initiated at the request of Culver City Police Chief John Montanio.

Culver City Police Officer Heidi Keyantash alleged in an internal memo to the chief that the councilman appeared at the scene when his son was detained and threatened her, shouting, “I’ll get you! I promise I’ll get you!”

Keyantash alleged that the councilman interfered and accused her of being out to get his son. She had pulled over the younger Vera on Sepulveda Boulevard because the registration on his truck was expired. During the stop, Keyantash recovered a white powder from Vera Jr. alleged to be methamphetamine.

In the Aug. 30 internal memo, Keyantash also alleged that Montanio ordered her to omit any mention of Vera Sr.’s behavior from the police report.

Vera Jr., 39, a former police reserve officer, was neither arrested nor cited at at the time of the stop, and the vehicle was released to his father.

The younger Vera was on probation after pleading no contest in January to carrying a loaded firearm.