Documents In Case Of Surfer's Death Reveal Gang, Nazi Symbols
POSTED: 6:51 pm PDT August 29, 2007
UPDATED: 7:07 pm PDT August 29, 2007
SAN DIEGO -- Police seized a notebook containing gang and Nazi symbols from the bedroom of one of four young men accused in the beating death of a professional surfer in La Jolla, court documents revealed Wednesday.According to a search warrant affidavit, officers found a notebook full of "Bird Rock Bandit" symbols depicting wounded warriors tattooed with "BRB" and Nazi symbols, such as lightning bolts and swastikas, during the search of Seth Cravens' bedroom.The search also yielded a "Support Your Local Hells Angels DAGO" bumper sticker posted on a shelved box, according to the document.San Diego police Detective Sandi Oplinger prepared the document, in which she states that the Dago Mob is a brand used on merchandise manufactured and distributed by the Hells Angels.Cravens, 21, along with Eric House, 20, Matthew Yanke, 21, and Orlando Osuna, 22, are charged in the death of 24-year-old Emery Kauanui.Police allege the four are part of a hard-partying "crew" known as the Bird Rock Bandits.A search of the Bird Rock Bandits Web page on My Space revealed a photo of all four defendants and others, police said.Prosecutors allege Cravens delivered the fatal blow to Kauanui, and that the defendant had been known to batter male and female victims.The search warrant affidavit detailed a number of violent incidents in which Cravens was allegedly involved since 2002.All four defendants are charged with murder, but prosecutor Sophia Roach said earlier this month that more charges are planned.A readiness conference is scheduled Tuesday before Judge John Einhorn.Kauanui died of brain injuries on May 28 -- four days after the attack, which was precipitated by a drink-spilling incident at the Brew House in La Jolla, investigators said.The victim spilled a drink on House and was later driven home by his girlfriend. The defendants allegedly followed, and House was encouraged to fight Kauanui.During the fight, Cravens allegedly sucker-punched the victim, knocking him to the ground.
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