Pier Gunman Pleads Not Guilty

By Teresa Rochester

Oswaldo Amezcua, the alleged gunman responsible for the Independence Day shoot out and hostage takeover on the pier, pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges ranging from attempted murder of a peace officer to kidnapping.

The arraignment in Santa Monica Municipal Court of Amezcua and co-defendant Joseph Conrad Flores, whose arrest sparked the holiday gunfight that wounded three police officers and three civilians, had been postponed twice this month. The delays allowed attorneys to continue investigating the incident that shut down the pier for most of its busiest day of the year.

Amezcua faces seven counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, one count of kidnapping, six counts of taking hostages, one count of assault with a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Flores pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and parole violation.

Both men, who authorities have identified as hard core members of a Baldwin Park gang, also pleaded denial of special allegations, such as premeditation.

"We always say that, just as a matter of course," said Amezcua's attorney Jan Datomi after the hearing.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Morrison's request that the city of Santa Monica be allowed to seek restitution from the defendants was approved by Judge Richard Neidorf, who also allowed the media to photograph and videotape the hearing despite objections from the defense and prosecution.

As the lawyers debated a date for a preliminary hearing, Amezcua, shackled and dressed in a blue prison uniform, winked at his sister. Flores, who sat behind his co-defendant, chuckled to himself several times during the hearing. He is facing his third strike under California law.

Both men are wanted in connection to three slayings - in Victorville, Ontario and Baldwin Park. They are also suspects in the attempted murder of a San Bernardino County sheriff in Fontana.

It was the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department that notified Santa Monica police that Flores, who was on parole for a 1995 conviction, was on the crowded pier shortly after 1 a.m. on the Fourth of July.

Police apprehended Flores, 30, after a brief struggle. Amezcua, who had walked into the Playland Arcade stepped back outside and saw Flores being arrested. Amezcua went back inside the building as police began to circle it.

Spotting officers at the back door of the 50-year-old arcade, Amezcua grabbed a woman and started firing at police officers, three of whom were shot. A 17-year-old boy and two women also were injured during the shoot out.

Amezcua then barricaded himself and 15 hostages in the arcade. The siege ended peacefully 5 ½ hours later when Amezcua crawled out an arcade window. Amezcua is being held on $8.475 million bail and Flores is being held on $1 million bail.