Pubdate: Wed, 09 Aug 2006
Source: Oroville Mercury-Register (CA)
Copyright: 2006 Oroville Mercury Register
Contact:  http://www.orovillemr.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2277
Author: Ricci Graham, Staff Writer

POLICE ARREST SUSPECT IN DEADLY HEIST

SAN LEANDRO -- A 20-year-old Oakland man whom authorities linked to a
deadly takeover robbery of a cannabis club last year has been arrested
on suspicion of murder and robbery, an investigator with the Alameda
County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.

Joseph McWoodson -- who is being held at Santa Rita jail in Dublin on
unrelated charges -- will be arraigned in Alameda County Superior Court
today and charged with murder in the death of Demarco Lowery,
Sgt.Scott Dudek said.

An 18-year-old Oakland resident, Lowery was fatally shot by the owner
of the now-closed A Natural Source medical marijuana dispensary after
an exchange of gunfire with employees during a robbery of the business
on Aug. 19, 2005.

After the foiled military-style takeover, Lowery's body was dumped
outside the emergency entrance of Children's Hospital Oakland about 35
minutes after the shootout.

McWoodson is the second suspect to be arrested in the brazen robbery
of the dispensary, which was in the 16300 block of Foothill Boulevard
in unincorporated San Leandro.

Jarrell McKneely, 19, was arrested at the scene by sheriff's deputies.
McKneely has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of robbery and is
awaiting sentencing.

Dudek said detectives are still gathering information on others who
were involved.

"We're looking at three other people," he said. "And we're
anticipating an arrest of those three."

Dudek said investigators were led to McWoodson by people who weren't
involved. Acquaintances of Lowery and the others feel that the men
involved should be held to answer, Dudek said.

"The catalyst behind it is the only way justice is going to be served
is if all are captured," Dudek said. "As this thing goes on, people
continued to cooperate with us, because they feel everybody should be
punished ... for this poorly thought-out robbery."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake