On May 23 at about 4:35 a.m., Santa Monicapoliceofficers responded to a residential burglary in the 500 block of Alta Avenue.
A witness to the burglary saw three male Hispanic subjects wearing dark clothing entering and leaving the residence. About an hour later, an alert citizen called the Santa Monica Police Department to report several male subjects wearing black clothing casing vehicles in the area of 7th Street and Montana Avenue.
A patrol officer driving eastbound on Montana Avenue located and detained a male Hispanic wearing dark clothing (black hat, black gloves, black jacket and black shorts) in the same area as the vehicle casers.
While investigating the vehicle-casing activity and a possible connection with the earlier residential burglary, the officers located an additional subject to the rear of the Chase Bank branch at 625 Montana Ave. The second subject also matched the description provided by witnesses.
During a search of the subjects, officers located the key fob for a BMW along with a pair of earrings and other items stolen during the burglary. Using information obtained from the suspects, the officers located the BMW and confirmed that it was an unreported stolen vehicle taken from Los Angeles a few hours before.
Additional property taken in the residential burglary was located in the vehicle and processed by forensics specialists for evidence. The two suspects were arrested for burglary and vehicle theft. One of the suspects is currently on parole.
Juan Ricardo Gonzalez, 27, of Los Angeles, was held without bail. Joshua Alberto Rodriguez, 20, of Los Angeles, had bail set at $50,000.
