Santa Monica Police Raid Homes of Two Animal Liberation Press Officers

Los Angeles- Search warrants were served on the residences Tuesday of two North American Animal Liberation Press Officers by the Santa Monica Police Department. No arrests were made, and no reason was given for the warrants, signed by Los Angeles Appellate Judge Paul Turner. Thousands of dollars worth of private items were taken with no explanation, confounding animal activists in the Los Angeles area, which has seen increasingly effective animal advocacy in the last several years.

Santa Monica Police Raid Homes of Two Animal Liberation Press Officers
Police refuse to delineate reason for search warrant
Similar raid last year resulted in costly lawsuit by activists
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Los Angeles

Search warrants were served on the residences Tuesday of two North American Animal Liberation Press Officers by the Santa Monica Police Department. No arrests were made, and no reason was given for the warrants, signed by Los Angeles Appellate Judge Paul Turner. Thousands of dollars worth of private items were taken with no explanation, confounding animal activists in the Los Angeles area, which has seen increasingly effective animal advocacy in the last several years.

The homes of Dr. Jerry Vlasak and Linda Greene were raided on Tuesday, October 31 at around 11 am; neither occupant was at home. In a similar action in 2004, the same agency raided the home of Goldfinger lead guitarist John Feldman in Bellaire; no arrests were ever made, and Feldman was awarded $75,000 by the City of Santa Monica last year.

Press Officer Dr. Jerry Vlasak stated: “Apparently the Santa Monica Police are fond of rummaging through the belongings of innocent people who advocate for animals. My wife’s underwear drawer seemed to be of special interest to them, although the Press Office premises themselves have not been touched as yet. They left my home a mess; we are, however, looking forward to our hefty sum from the department, just like John and Amy [Feldman] got last year. The animals can always use the money.”

Linda Greene adds: “The Press Office must be doing something right, to incur such wrath from those who support animal exploitation and abuse.”

Despite the loss of several computers, the Press Officers, who claim they keep back-up data available at several locations, were unfazed and back at work within hours. Sgt. J. Moroso and Lt. Beautz of the Santa Monica Police Department, who conducted the raids, did not respond to repeated calls.

Contact Jerry Vlasak, MD, Press Officer, at (310) 251-0259.