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SANTA MONICA (CNS) – At least 10 people suspected of burglary in the Santa Monica Palisades Fire evacuation zone were arrested, police said Wednesday.
Officers responded to the 200 block of 18th Street around 7:50 p.m. last Wednesday regarding an alleged prowler at a residence under construction on the second floor, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
A white 2017 Dodge Journey was parked outside when the officers arrived at the location. The driver then left the scene and turned east onto San Vicente Boulevard, where it was ultimately pulled over and the driver, 27- year-old David Fabian Alarcon, and two other occupants were searched by officers, police said.
Officers recovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia from 29-year- old Sergio Antonio Navarro, according to SMPD. They also discovered that 29- year-old Erick Daniel Montoya had an outstanding arrest warrant for petty theft from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and recovered multiple identification and bank cards belonging to victims, police said. Both Navarro and Alarcon were arrested and booked on suspicion of drug and paraphernalia possession, as well as burglary conspiracy, while Montoya was booked on an arrest warrant and suspicion of burglary conspiracy.
On Thursday, at around 4:40 p.m., officers observed a white cargo van that failed to stop at the intersection of 11th Court and Carlyle Avenue, according to the SMPD.
Officers stopped the vehicle and determined the driver, 22-year-old Miguel Angel Dorantes, and a passenger did not have identification. The vehicle was also missing its front license plate and displayed stolen registration stickers, police said.
Police said the passenger, 18-year-old Dominic Pacheco-Magana, was using the Watch Duty app on his phone to pinpoint areas of active fires and evacuation zones. Officers recovered a black ski mask between the driver’s and passenger seats, along with a pair of black Nike nylon gloves in the driver’s side door. Police said officers also recovered three large Amazon freight tote bags and black T-shirts from the cargo area of the van.
That same day, officers conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of Euclid Street late in the evening, saying the Toyota Camry was in violation of the evacuation order and city curfew, police said.
The motorist, identified as 18-year-old David Manuel Ortiz, told officers an airsoft rifle was inside the vehicle, police said. Three other occupants and Ortiz exited the sedan and were searched by officers, along with the vehicle. Police recovered an airsoft pistol, a headlamp in the center console, a portable light, a tan Glock airsoft pistol from the rear pouch of the front passenger seat, a black ski mask, black latex gloves, a handheld black window breaker with a belt-cutting feature, and a second window breaker from the rear pouch of the driver’s seat, police said.
“Based on the items discovered in the vehicle as well as the violations of the evacuation zone and curfew orders, the officers formed the opinion that the occupants of the vehicle were casing and looking for the opportunity to burglarize an unattended residence or vehicle,” police said.
Investigators identified the other three suspects as 19-year-old Jose Alberto Segura, 18-year-old Yancarlos Valdez-Ponce Jr., and 18-year-old Junior Abades Montesinos, who were all arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary conspiracy with Ortiz.
On Saturday, around 10 p.m., an SMPD traffic services officer responded to the 400 block of San Vicente Boulevard to a report from a witness involving a man in a breezeway at an apartment building.
“The subject was seen going through cabinets in the common area and garage of the building,” police said. “Responding officers located a subject matching the witness’s description in the alley rear in the 600 block of San Vicente Boulevard.”
Investigators identified the man as 29-year-old Joshia Kaliel Love and determined that he was in possession of a gold-colored window punch, one blue mechanic’s glove, and a ski mask, police said. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary, being in possession of a burglary tool, and probation violation.
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