Council Asks Its Safety Panel to Determine Why Lost Hills Ignores 'Dark Stop' Advice for Women

■Other Enforcement Agencies OK Moving to Lit Areas

Monique Marissa Lukens came before the Malibu City Council for the third time this week to discuss concerns with how she was treated on Pacific Coast Highway by a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputy on Jan. 24 just after midnight.

She said she encountered problems when she was pulled over and attempted to move to a welllit area on PCH. She said she was threatened with physical restraint and arrest and was given two tickets, including a $500 ticket "for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle"—the deputy's vehicle.

Lukens said, "Council, you have heard my case and have been sent numerous emails. Could you please comment on how are you assisting with the larger issue of how your sheriff's department handles cases with single females in unlit areas of your vast terrain? After speaking twice, I am still waiting for a response."

Councilmember Jefferson Wagner said sheriff's deputies have established night-time procedures.

"It is a difficult time for a single deputy. Deputies don't know what is in your car. In this city I am not aware of fouling on duty. There are no crimes while on duty. We are aware of your complaint," he said.

"What can we do? What do we know?" asked Councilmember Laura Rosenthal.

City Manager Jim Thorsen said, "I know she has filed a complaint. She can also go to the ombudsman, which is fairly an indepth review of both parties. It is a private matter. I don't get emails about it."

Rosenthal addressed Lukens' statement, "It does concern me. I want to know the status."

Councilmember Lou La Monte said he also is concerned since he has a young daughter. "We have asked others to come forward. We have heard nothing," he said. "We don't know if your incident is a rogue event."

"I did receive comments from several people," said Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich. "I think we should assign this to our public safety commission to review sheriff 's [department] protocol and sheriff's [deputy] stops."

"We should make [these concerns] better so people can feel safe, even if there are innocent mistakes," she said.

Later, when the city council was allocating assignments for its commissions and committees, the majority agreed with Conley Ulich and did just that.

BY BILL KOENEKER