LARRY E. v. Superior Court

This is a proceeding in mandamus to compel Pitchess discovery in a pending juvenile court matter (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 602) in which petitioner (minor) is charged, inter alia, with interfering with police officers in the discharge of their duties and battery 'upon a police officer.

On November 15, 1986, at about 10:30 p.m., Long Beach Officers Loomis and Harris were on patrol in the Carmelita Housing Project. The officers saw minor standing in a parking lot, next to the passenger side of a car occupied by two people. Believing a narcotics transaction was taking place, the officers pulled into the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Minor allegedly ran and continued running even after the officers yelled at him to stop. Ultimately, he ran to a second parking lot where he crouched down between two cars. Officer Loomis drove toward minor in the car, while Officer Harris pursued him on foot. While in pursuit, Harris allegedly saw minor remove a clear plastic bag containing a white substance from his pocket and toss it into a trash bin. Harris caught up with minor about 10 feet from the bin.

By the time Loomis arrived minor was on his back on the ground. Loomis saw minor…