HAWTHORNE, CA—Most criminals get popped on one or perhaps two relatively meager charges, and then there are those who go for beyond broke.
Derrick Lavon Elder, 25, was arrested by Hawthorne police officers on Monday, December 1 at approximately 4:35 p.m. along the 4100 block of West El Segundo Boulevard in Hawthorne. The unemployed Los Angeles man was picked up for a number of violations and warrants.
The fresh charges were attempted car-jacking (A215(A)PC), obstructing/resisting an executive officer (69PC), owning/possessing a firearm by a convicted felon (29800(A)1PC) and illegally possessing a concealed firearm (29900(A)1PC). Each violation was set with a bail, the total of which was $180,000.
There were three warrants. Two were from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and were for taking a vehicle without owning it (10851(A)VC) and threatening a crime with intent to injure (422PC). A third warrant was from Los Angeles Sheriff’s department (LASD) for vandalism with loss greater than $400 (594(B)(1)PC). Elder had been arrested on March 26 on the auto theft charge.
Altogether, and with at least two warrants not having bail amounts yet set, the total was $430,000.
According to California state law, an “executive officer” is a government official who may use his or her own discretion in performing his or her job duties. Moreover, the “69PC” charge is considered a “wobbler”—a violation that may be judged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
A “wobbler” may also be learning that one’s bail amount is speeding toward half a million dollars or more once all the bail is declared.
