This guy needs help cleaning a Chimichanga from his chandelier

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'The Mansion:' Reports of drugs and parties rile neighbors, baffle owner
By David Richie - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, February 7, 2007
On a street of $1 million homes, 117 Woodsmoke Way in Folsom stands out as both a dream house and a neighborhood nightmare.

Police say the house is well-known for round-the-clock parties, drugs and trouble. Neighbors have formed a watch group to keep an eye on it, and police have twice raided it for drugs, once detonating stun grenades inside.

Methamphetamine users, police say, call it "The Mansion."

This "mansion" is in the exclusive Los Cerros neighborhood just west of East Bidwell Street. Owned by Roy W. Larrick, former president of Larrick Piano and Organ, the 5,325-square-foot house boasts a grand entrance, a sweeping staircase, a built-in movie theater, and a limousine on blocks in the driveway. Police say the once quiet suburban castle has become more than a noisy nuisance.

"We continue to monitor heavy vehicle and foot traffic into the house," said Folsom Police Capt. Paul Bonaventure. "Some of it is strange activity, like washing the driveway at 2 or 3 in the morning. When we observe stuff like that, it sends up red flags."

Last month, infuriated residents took over a portion of a police community meeting, describing the house as a disruptive presence in their otherwise quiet community. Folsom Police say the house has attracted numerous hangers-on. In addition to the police raids, Sacramento bounty hunter Leonard Padilla once led an armed posse into the house to retrieve stolen guns and knives someone had brought to the house, police said.

"We founded a Neighborhood Watch to improve communication," said Neighborhood Watch coordinator Jen Van Tuyle, "and share information with the police about what is going on at that house."

Larrick has twice been arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, pleading no contest in one case and facing court in the other case.

At his home this week, Larrick was cleaning a chimichanga from his prized custom crystal chandelier. He said he was baffled by the accusations. He admitted there have been problems, but said, "We don't have parties. There is no dope sold here and there is no dope in the house."

He quietly described himself as a broken man, living in a broken house. He said his health is shot, his hospitality has been abused and his freedom has been threatened by overzealous police who should be helping him, not hounding him.

Larrick, now 53, said he was diagnosed HIV-positive about three years ago, prompting his wife of 23 years to divorce him and his three children to cut their ties to him.

In the divorce settlement, Larrick got the house. The business went to his wife, Rebecca, and he is no longer associated with the company. Larrick began to live openly as a gay man.

At the Jan. 16 community meeting, neighbors rattled off stories of years of chaos and a neighborhood living in fear of "Roy's boys."

Van Tuyle said fear of retaliation by Larrick's houseguests is one of the main reasons the problems have gone on for so long.

Larrick said he has allowed people to stay at his house, including at least one young man he said has "anger management issues" that spill out into the yard at times.

He admitted he has lost control of his house.

"It is like when you feed a cat and the cat won't go away. One cat brings a second cat and the second cat brings a third," he said.

The stately house, with its sweeping staircase and grand entrance, has shown up repeatedly on police reports.

A review of the last six months of police logs shows more than a dozen incidents at the house or on the street nearby, including arrests for suspected drunken driving, traffic collisions, fights, and arrests for burglary and vehicle theft.

In late October and early November last year, events reached a crescendo at the house.

On Oct. 30, Folsom police said, Padilla and his men invaded the house after Padilla learned that guns and knives stolen from his office were there.

He barged inside and retrieved the items.

On Nov. 2, the Folsom Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics team arrived.

SWAT officers threw "flash-bang" devices, designed to disorient people inside a building. Neighbors said they were horrified by the flashes, the blasts and the screams. Some thought they were witnessing a mass murder.

"We decided to use the SWAT team because we were concerned about weapons that might be inside the house," said Bonaventure.

He said the "flash-bangs" were used because at least one person in the house would not follow orders to come out of a room.

Larrick was among those taken in, marking his second arrest on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine. Four others were arrested on outstanding warrants or suspicion of possessing illegal drugs. Some had records that included crimes such as assault and possession of stolen property.

In a telephone interview last week, Larrick's attorney, Charles F. Bloodgood, said Folsom police are fighting too hard. Both of Larrick's arrests were for suspicion of simple possession of controlled substances, Bloodgood said.

"My client is not dangerous -- just the opposite," he said.

Larrick's house was raided for the first time on Dec. 13, 2005, by officers of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force.

Larrick was arrested then on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine after officers found syringes, a "loaded" syringe in Larrick's bedroom and several bindles containing small amounts of methamphetamine, according to court documents.

Bloodgood said heavy scrutiny by neighbors and the police are making matters worse for Larrick. The once-powerful businessman is struggling with health problems, a broken marriage and lifestyle changes, Bloodgood said.

Larrick has been robbed of household goods, his prized Corvette has been stolen and some of his visitors are taking advantage of the situation and his beautiful home.

He has sought police assistance to regain control of his property but that assistance has been denied, Bloodgood said.

Folsom police should have intervened instead of watching Padilla run roughshod through Larrick's home, and the subsequent SWAT raid was excessive, Bloodgood said.

"They sent in 25 ... cops for one gay dude and his housemates," Bloodgood said. "A helicopter, a Hummer, flash grenades -- it's overkill. They do not like him and they want him out of Dodge."

Larrick's legal situation has been complicated. The first charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, but Larrick did not complete a required "diversion program" and criminal charges were reinstated. He was ordered to serve 15 days on a Sacramento County Sheriff's Department work project.

He also failed to appear for a court date on the most recent charge.

He forfeited bail, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken back into custody briefly in December.

In a few weeks, Larrick will be back in court on the drug charge stemming from the November SWAT raid.

Bloodgood is filing a motion to suppress evidence. He plans to argue that the police had insufficient reason to launch the search.

He says the "flash-bangs" used in the raid caused at least $20,000 damage to the house's theater.

"It has to be done in a reasonable way," he said. "They went in like 'The Sands of Iwo Jima.' "

Meanwhile, the house is up for sale. The asking price is as high as $1.5 million.

Police officers who have been inside say it's a fixer-upper.


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