People v. Whicker CA2/5

Facts On December 1, 2012, appellant, his girlfriend Tiejera Scruggs (Scruggs), and Scruggs’ brother Christopher Taylor (Taylor) were at a house in Lancaster. Appellant and Scruggs got into an argument in appellant’s bedroom, and appellant punched Scruggs and held her down. Taylor came into the bedroom, and tried to calm appellant down. Taylor and Scruggs then went into another bedroom. Appellant followed and pointed a gun at Scruggs. Taylor stood in front of Scruggs to protect her. The argument moved around the house. When Scruggs tried to leave, appellant grabbed her, pointed a gun at her and told her that she was not leaving. The argument continued. Taylor jumped on appellant and stabbed him with a screwdriver. Scruggs punched appellant. Taylor and Scruggs fled the house. Taylor found a neighbor, who called the police. Scruggs continued to flee, but appellant, driving Scruggs’ car, caught up with her and forced her into the car. He told her to drive. They were later stopped by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, who found several small plastic bags of cocaine and cocaine base on the floorboard of the passenger side of the car, where appellant was sitting. A deputy saw one of…