People v. Ragland CA2/5

FACTS

Prosecution Evidence

Issac Osuman Umar, a Ghanaian immigrant, owned a store near 76th Street and Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, where he sold African designs, furniture, area rugs, and tennis shoes. He also ran a tailoring business from the store, making clothing, which was distributed by five or six “youngsters,” including defendant. Umar’s store was one of

All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.

2 Sentencing on the additional firearm use allegations under section 12022.53, subdivisions (b) and (c), was stayed.

2 several on the block. Because of the crime rate in the area, the shop owners would open their stores at the same time, displaying their wares outside their respective stores.

Eyewitness Testimony

At about 11:50 a.m. on February 3, 2004, Eloise Jones was parked on 76th Street looking towards Vermont Avenue. She saw “a young man standing in front of the building next to the laundry-mat [sic] . . . just standing there and he had gloves on, black gloves.” The man wore a white shirt and khaki pants. He was Black, with fair skin, and in his late teens or early 20s. He was short, only about five feet one inch or five feet…