From Lookout employees
July 2, 2021 – Two men were arrested at a traffic stop shortly after midnight on Friday after police found a loaded gun, drugs, a Halloween-themed mask and other evidence of criminal activity in the vehicle.
Joe Martinez, a 38-year-old Lennox man on parole, and Tony D. McClendon, a 44-year-old Inglewood man, a convicted felon, were arrested at the intersection of Lincoln and Wilshire Boulevards.
Martinez, who drove the 2012 black Nissan Altima, was stopped by police for breaking the law, Lt. Rudy Flores, the police spokesman.
McClendon “initially provided false information,” but “officials later found that he was on federal probation,” said Flores.
The officers searched the vehicle and found “a loaded 9mm Beretta pistol, a backpack with a Halloween-themed mask, gloves, binoculars and black clothing,” he said.
They also found “Narcotics, narcotic paraphernalia, an arrow key (used by the Post Office), various mail, credit cards, and identification cards on behalf of other people”.
Based on their investigations, the officials believe that both men “were involved in criminal activities such as robbery and theft,” said Flores.
They were taken into custody and charged on numerous counts in the Santa Monica Police Department.
Martinez was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of utensils, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
McClendon was arrested for being a convicted felon who possessed a pistol, carried a loaded firearm in public, impersonated a false person, stolen a letter, and stole a key suitable for mail.
“Based on the officials’ findings, it is apparent that these individuals were involved in illegal activities and most likely would be guilty of other crimes,” said Flores.
Police are hoping the public can help detectives conduct follow-up investigations that link the two suspects to other specific crimes, Flores said.
Anyone with additional information about Friday’s incident or the two people involved should call the Criminal Investigation Division at 310-458-8451 or the Santa Monica Department Guard Commanders (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.
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