INSIDE SCOOP REAL ESTATE SPORTS SOMETHING GONE FOWL PAGE 3 ON THE SUNNY SIDE PAGE 14 BUYING OUT BECKHAM PAGE 19 Visit us online at smdp.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2007 Volume 6 Issue 56 Santa Monica Daily Press CAMPBELL’S COURT BATTLE PAGE 21 Since 2001: A news odyssey THE WORKS ON LAYERS ISSUE TRACKING YOUR CHILDREN Mistaken identity Stepfather says he believed officers were gang members BY KEVIN HERRERA Daily Press Staff Writer AIRPORT COURTHOUSE The stepfather of a 21-year-old Santa Monica man charged with the attempted murder of two undercover police officers testified Tuesday that he believed the officers were gang members looking to kill him, and that may have been the reason why they were attacked. Richard de la Cruz, who was called to the stand by the judge, also testified that his stepson, Michael German Espindola, could not have been the shooter because he saw Espindola inside the family’s apartment just TATTLETATTLE TELLYTELLY as shots were fired outside the front door. ParentsParents useuse GPSGPS softwaresoftware inin cellcell phonesphones toto keepkeep tabstabs onon kidskids STORYPAGE3STORY PAGE 3 The man responsible for firing at least three shots at the officers is Espindola’s Fabian Lewkowicz
[email protected] cousin, who was with de la Cruz as the two TOUGH CELL: Santa Monica High School Senior Nick Piacentini, 17, talks on his Motorola cell phone during lunch break on Tuesday as he waits for walked from their van to the apartment, the his sandwich at the Donut King. Asked if his cell phone was equipped with a tracking device, Piacentini answered, ‘Hell, no!’ stepfather said.