Tag: stolen vehicle

SANTA MONICA—On Monday, November 10, the Santa Monica Police Department reported that on Sunday, November 9, at approximately 2:30 p.m., officers responded to a reported stolen vehicle in the area of 3rd Street and Arizona Avenue.

The suspect fled in the stolen white Ford F-550 work truck towing a trailer. As the investigation unfolded, officers learned the suspect was involved in multiple non-injury traffic collisions as he continued northbound on Pacific Coast Highway. Regional law enforcement partners were notified.

The driver was subsequently involved in a collision near Big Rock Drive in Los Angeles County, where he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot towards the shoreline. Officers, with support from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, were able to take the suspect into custody without further incident.

The suspect has been identified as Walter Albert Fernandez, 40, from Santa Clarita. Impairment is suspected and will be part of the ongoing investigation. Initial reports that noted that Fernandez may have been armed were later determined to be unfounded.

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with details including dash cam video or cellphone recordings is asked to contact SMPD’s Traffic Investigator, Lantz Lewis at (310) 458-2201 ext. 5311 or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at (310) 458-8427.

 

By Danny Jones

WESTWOOD—On November 21, the UCLA Police Department reported that two suspects were arrested for stealing at a retail establishment.

Patrol officers took action quickly and took the suspects into custody after stealing 58 items from a store. The suspects attempted to run, but officers were able to catch them and make the arrests.

“We’re proud of our team for protecting our community and stopping these individuals. Thank you to all the officers who work hard every day to keep our community safe,” said the UCLA PD on their Facebook. The names of the suspects have not been disclosed to the public.

Authorities indicated that patrol officers also arrested the driver of a stolen vehicle on November 23. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle stolen from Missouri on November 23. The driver fled and crashed near Gayley and Charles Young Drive South. Details about the driver’s arrest has not been disclosed to the public.

With the help of alert community members, officers located the suspect hiding in a nearby parking structure. The driver is now in custody.

By Trevor

WOODLAND HILLS—A disabled woman who traveled from Albuquerque, New Mexico to visit friends for the holidays had her RV stolen sometime between December 24, 2022 and December 25.

Jill Silverthorne was spending the night at a friend’s on Christmas Eve and had her RV parked outside. She awoke to find that her RV was missing and all her belongings gone. One of the items within the RV was her electric wheelchair. She is currently relying on her walker to get around. 

Silverthorne spoke to Canyon News in an interview. The RV allowed her the freedom to see family and friends she explained. After the crime took place, both she and the friend she was staying with asked around the neighborhood to see if anyone was able to catch the crime on video. Most of the residents either had their cameras off or they weren’t working.  

She has not been able to travel back to her home since the crime occurred. 

Silverthorne had been saving for 10 years to obtain her custom RV and it took her 5 years to find it. It was designed to help her as a disabled person travel. She found the RV in Everette, Washington and it is equipped with all the necessary adaptations to the brakes and the steering wheel so she could travel. It also included a wheelchair.

She found the RV online and flew to Washington to purchase it. Once she got the vehicle she traveled south across multiple states to bring it back to her home and endured a major storm while transporting the vehicle. 

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the theft and her niece started a GoFundMe to help Silverthorne during this ordeal. So far they have made $1,940 of their $100,000 goal. To donate visit the GoFundMe page.

Anyone who may have information regarding this crime is asked to contact LAPD at 818-756-4820. Police currently do not have a suspect.

By Christianne