Palisades Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin reported on a successful criminal capture.
A suspect entered a Charmel Lane residence through an unlocked patio rear door around 7:30 p.m. on February 2. The suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded money.
The suspect then demanded the resident open his safe. The victim complied. The suspect emptied the contents of the safe, placed it in a backpack and fled the location. He then fled in a black 2023 Kia Forte with the victim’s property.
The male suspect, 27 years old, was being monitored by a regional surveillance taskforce for other alleged burglaries that had been committed along the west side of Los Angeles.
As the suspect left Pacific Palisades, the surveillance group requested assistance from LAPD West LA in stopping him and making an arrest.
LAPD units were able to get behind the suspect’s vehicle, but the suspect took off, resulting in a pursuit on Pacific Coast Highway, and then onto the 10 Freeway.
Because of unsafe speed and the reckless driving by the suspect, the pursuit was called off and the LAPD air unit (helicopter) was able to track the suspect’s vehicle to an apartment in the city of Torrance.
The criminal fled into an apartment unit, barricaded himself inside and refused to come out. The LAPD Swat team was enroute to take over the perimeter and negotiation when the suspect voluntarily gave up and was taken into custody. DNA was taken and the evidence was booked.
The Charmel Lane victim’s property was recovered and returned to the victim.
Officers were unable to locate the handgun that was used in the burglary/ robbery. Since the suspect used force or fear (a handgun) to coerce the victims into giving up property, the suspect was arrested for robbery.
Detectives are working with other surrounding agencies to determine if the suspect is connected to additional burglaries.
Was the suspect released or is he in jail?