On Oct. 31 at approximately 6:45 a.m., a Santa Monica police officer on routine patrol in the 300 block of Broadway heard tires screeching and a vehicle engine accelerating.
As the officer approached the alley, he noticed a vehicle traveling at an extremely high rate of speed passing him. The officer entered the roadway, followed the car and when the vehicle came to a stop at a red light, he utilized his PA system and asked the driver to pull to the side of the road.
As the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed that the driver was hastily moving about the vehicle. The officer then asked the driver, later identified as Aubrey Berry, 30, of Marina del Rey, and his passenger to put their hands on the dashboard. Both subjects complied, yet when Berry was asked to throw his keys out of the window, he refused, saying he did not know where they were.
As the officer approached the car, a strong odor of marijuana was coming from the interior of the vehicle.
Berry became very upset, agitated and belligerent with the officer. Berry's behavior prompted the officer to call for back-up. Multiple directives given to Berry were ignored, and at one point Berry stated that he had a gun on him. The passenger exited the vehicle when told to, yet Berry continued to ignore commands for him to exit the vehicle.
Berry eventually did comply with officers and was taken into custody. Berry was arrested and booked for criminal threats, resisting arrest, exhibition of speed, possession of marijuana, unlicensed driving and an outstanding warrant. Bail was set at $51,000.
