SANTA MONICA—On August 29, the Santa Monica Police Department announced an investigation led to multiple arrests and the recovery of a stolen car and several weapons.
On August 25, officers conducted an operation to prevent catalytic converter theft when they spotted a black Audi near Ocean Avenue. The same vehicle was seen again on Colorado Avenue and 2nd Street after it crashed, and officers saw several people flee from it. Officers located the individuals and they were arrested. One person approached the vehicle, retrieved a black backpack, and fled with it.
With assistance from the SMART center, the Santa Monica Analytical Real-Time Center, officers found the person in a nearby alley, where he was in the process of getting rid of the backpack. Officers encountered another individual who took the backpack to a nearby construction site and hid it.
Once officers found the backpack, they discovered three loaded handguns, along with two weapons that lacked serial numbers; these weapons are commonly known as ghost guns. Officers arrested the individual who tried to hide the backpack.
The SMPD learned that the Audi had been stolen in an armed carjacking that was under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division. A total of four individuals were taken into custody. No additional details have been released to the public.
Canyon News reached out to the SMPD for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
By Daniel Diquinzio