WESTMINSTER, Calif. -- Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates' 29-year-old son, who has a history of drug problems, pleaded innocent Wednesday to two counts of armed robbery for the holdup of a suburban drug store.
Lowell Scott Gates, led into the courtroom wearing handcuffs and a bright orange jail jump suit, also pleaded innocent to a previously undisclosed charge of grand theft of jewelry taken from a home last March.
The defendant answered only 'yes' and 'no' to formal questions during the brief hearing. His father did not attend the court session.
The arraignment was delayed for more than an hour for arguments over a request by Deputy Public Defender Robert Goss and Assistant Deputy District Attorney Brent Romney to bar cameras from the courtroom. They said the photographs could hinder efforts to have witnesses officially identify the suspect.
Several media representatives opposed the request, saying they could get pictures elsewhere if necessary, and Orange County Muncipal Court Judge Alan McKone ruled that photographs would be allowed during the proceeding.
Gates, arrested shortly after Monday's robbery of The Druggist pharmacy in the Harbour Mall in Huntington Beach, remained in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing June 14.
An anguished police chief told reporters Tuesday that his son -- who he said began using narcotics at age 15 and dropped out of high school - was a prime example of the danger of drugs.
Chief Gates said he has had little to do with his son lately, and said he would not help his son with his latest legal problems.
'He is responsible. He's 29 years old. He will get no assistance from me,' Gates said.
'God gave him tremendous gifts and he chose not to use those gifts,' Gates said. 'I think it points up one of the things that I've been saying for a long, long time -- that drugs are killing young people and he's a prime example of just exactly that.'
The chief apologized for the actions of his son, who lives near the pharmacy with his mother and stepfather.
'Yes, he's a narcotics addict. He has been for many years,' Gates said. 'He's a good example of why it's so important that we do something with young people who get involved in narcotics.
The chief's son allegedly entered the store shortly before noon Monday and gave employees a note demanding three specific kinds of narcotics -- Demerol, Dilaudid and Percodan. The robber was given a bag of the drugs -- worth about $5,000 -- and then ran out of the store.
Pharmacist Michael Froehle followed Gates out of the store and two bystanders joined in the pursuit while police were summoned.
Police surrounded Gates' mother's home on Malta Drive, a few blocks from the drugstore and ordered him out of the house. After a 30-minute standoff, Gates walked out and surrendered peacefully.
Police, with Gates' stepfather's permission, searched the house but found no gun.
In 1978, Lowell Gates pleaded guilty to misdemeanor narcotics use. He was later sentenced to 90 days in jail for violating his probation after tests found he was using narcotics.
