Felon Wanted For Burglary Nabbed By Police During Traffic Stop: SMPD

SANTA MONICA, CA — A felon wanted for burglary who was driving a vehicle with stolen license plates was arrested in Santa Monica early Monday morning, according to police.

Officers stopped the vehicle in traffic around 3:15 a.m. Monday at Ocean Way and Bay Street.

During the stop, officers spotted a handgun in plain sight in the vehicle. The driver was arrested and police later determined he had provided a false identity to officers, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

The driver was booked on the following charges:

• Being a felon in possession of a firearm
• Having a concealed firearm in vehicle
• Providing false identification
• False Impersonation

He had been wanted on a burglary warrant out of California City, police said.

On Monday, April 14th at approximately 315am, officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Ocean Way and Bay Street on a vehicle with stolen license plates. During the stop, a handgun was observed in plain sight within the vehicle. The driver was subsequently arrested and… pic.twitter.com/X4RZ18IH2y
— Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) April 15, 2025

The driver's name was not released by police.