Police Pursue Driver Onto Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica police arrested a man on Wednesday after a pursuit that led officers onto the Santa Monica Pier following a driver, according to authorities.

At about 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, officers said they witnessed a driver run a red light near the 700 block of Montana Avenue and attempted to pull the vehicle over. According to SMPD, the driver failed to yield to police and led police on a chase for several blocks before colliding with another vehicle at 7th Street and Wilshire Boulevard.

Again, the driver failed to stop after the collision and police continued to pursue the other vehicle down the Pier ramp and into the Newcomb lot. The police chase ended when officers boxed the driver in near the Carousel building on the Pier.

After the conclusion of the vehicle pursuit, the driver, who was later identified as 21-year-old Nehemias Rivera-Menjivar, attempted to flee on foot.

"An officer deployed a taser which had no effect on Rivera-Menjivar. After continued demands, Riveria-Menjivar was finally taken into custody without further incident," SMPD said in a statement.

According to preliminary investigation results, officers discovered the vehicle involved in the pursuit was reported stolen from an address in Long Beach. Additionally, police said Rivera-Menjivar admitted to using marijuana.

Rivera-Menjivar was booked on suspicion of hit and run, evading police, driving under the influence and resisting and obstructing arrest.

Anyone who may have additional information about the incident was urged to contact Sergeant Nick Krueger at nick.krueger@santamonica.gov. After-hours calls can be reported to the 24-hour Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.