A man previously employed by a nonprofit organization providing services to homeless individuals was arrested on Thursday on a federal drug charge.
Authorities allege that Christopher Barret Johnson, 42, possessed fentanyl when he was stopped by police while driving a BMW near MacArthur Park earlier this month.
Johnson, a resident of Culver City, faces a criminal complaint for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Court documents do not indicate that Johnson has legal representation.
The U.S. attorney’s office in L.A. states that Johnson was associated with People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), a national nonprofit that offers street outreach and housing solutions.
Tyler Renner, PATH’s media director, confirmed in a statement that Johnson’s employment with the organization concluded on September 16 of last year.
“As an organization committed to ending homelessness and safeguarding vulnerable populations, PATH is appalled and deeply troubled that an individual would misrepresent themselves as a current employee,” Renner stated.
He further noted that “any employee who does not adhere to our code of conduct or is found engaging in unethical or illegal activities will be terminated from our statewide organization.”
Renner mentioned that PATH currently has no contracts or services in the MacArthur Park area, with the last outreach services concluding in June 2024.
The organization also disputed the U.S. attorney’s office’s assertion that PATH distributes syringes, including in MacArthur Park, terming that claim as untrue.
“PATH’s services are trauma-informed, and our teams work diligently to connect individuals with treatment for substance use, mental health care, and physical health services that promote long-term stability and self-sufficiency,” Renner added.
Los Angeles police were patrolling the park around 10:20 p.m. on May 5 when they observed Johnson making a sudden U-turn in front of them, according to an affidavit included in the complaint.
The officers subsequently stopped the BMW, which did not have a front license plate, as per the affidavit. Authorities noted that Johnson appeared to be the only occupant and seemed “very nervous.”
The affidavit mentioned that an officer spotted a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine on the car’s center console and identified two knives in Johnson’s waistband.
After removing Johnson from the vehicle, authorities reported finding a plastic baggie of meth in his left front pocket during a pat-down. A search of the BMW revealed a backpack with additional baggies of meth and fentanyl, along with cash and a digital scale with fentanyl residue, according to the affidavit.
Additionally, officers discovered a dish soap container filled with more plastic baggies containing fentanyl, as stated in court documents. The center console of the BMW also had cash and numerous baggies, authorities reported.
Lab analysis confirmed that the drugs seized included at least 142 grams of a substance containing fentanyl and nearly 46 grams of meth.
The affidavit indicates that when questioned by officers, Johnson admitted to having drugs in his car but claimed they belonged to a woman known as “Red,” asserting he was merely holding onto them for safekeeping.
If found guilty, Johnson could face a minimum of five years in prison and up to a maximum of 40 years.
MacArthur Park has recently been a focal point for law enforcement operations at both local and federal levels.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli shared a photo of Johnson’s business card on X, which identified him as a substance use disorder specialist.
“Residents and businesses in MacArthur Park and surrounding areas have long raised concerns about the wisdom of providing syringes to homeless drug addicts where law-abiding citizens reside and work,” Essayli stated on X. “They label these policies ‘harm reduction.’ I term them ‘harm enabling.’ Providing drug-addicted individuals with needles to inject meth and fentanyl is never advisable.”
Proponents of harm reduction point to research demonstrating that supplying clean needles and other resources can significantly diminish the transmission of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis.
Earlier this month, federal authorities apprehended over a dozen individuals in a sweep targeting what they termed an “open-air drug market.” In March, federal agents arrested several members and associates of the 18th Street gang on accusations of murder, extortion, and drug trafficking.
