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Police Beat: Redondo Beach
Hitman
Two men said that a man with a gun had held them near a business on the 600 block of S. Pacific Coast Highway Friday night for nearly two hours. They said the man had displayed two guns and numerous rounds of ammunition. The man told them that he was a "hit man" for the "Mexican Mafia" and that he would kill them if they didn’t cooperate, they said. He allegedly told them he was going to kill or maim a woman he thought was responsible for a friend getting a lengthy prison sentence. After two hours of drinking beer and smoking marijuana, he told the men he had revealed too much and left. He returned 15 minutes later. At that point the two victims called police and pointed out the man’s car. When police approached it the driver sped off, leading police on a four-minute chase ending near the corner of Aviation Boulevard and Mathews Avenue, officers said. The man stopped when a Hawthorne Police Department helicopter shone a light on the car. A loaded .44 magnum handgun was found in the driver’s possession and another gun was found in the car, officers said. The man was wearing latex gloves underneath cotton gloves, and ski mask and duct tape were found in his car, officers said.
No joke
Tulita Elementary School Principal Lesley Thompson heard that a fifth grade student had told a friend that he was going to bring a gun to class on Tuesday. School resource officers and district officials said they questioned the child, who admitted that he joked about bringing a weapon to school. Officers explained to the child that due to a recent increase in school violence, schools are considered "no humor zones" when it comes to threats of violence. The student was placed in counseling.
Where there’s smoke
Redondo Beach police officers on Thursday arrested a teen with suspected gang affiliation who allegedly made threats to kill another student. Officers conducted a probation search on the boy. He and a friend were arrested on suspicion of possessing tobacco, marijuana and live ammunition.
There’s more smoke
Later Thursday, a 16-year-old Redondo Union high School student was allegedly heard discussing bomb making with another youth. A Redondo Beach Police school resource officer questioned the student, contacted his parents and searched his home with his parents’ consent. Officers seized the boy’s computer and disks and are continuing to investigate.
And still more smoke
A Redondo Union student who was upset that a girl didn’t want to date him allegedly made threats last month over the internet. The boy allegedly said he was going to get a gun and shoot 30 people and then himself. Recently the parents of the girl found a printout of threatening messages and reported the threats to the school administration. Investigators obtained a warrant and searched the boy’s home on Thursday. Two computers were seized and are being investigated. The boy is currently undergoing counseling.
Checkpoint
Redondo Beach Police held a California driver’s license and safety checkpoint near the corner of Inglewood Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard Saturday. Police inspected 3,521 cars and arrested three people on outstanding warrants. Officers issued 65 tickets, 31 of which were for motorists driving without their license cards on them. Police also impounded 10 of the 85 cars that they inspected.
ATM attempt
A man approached the user of an ATM on the 1600 block of S. Pacific Coast Highway Sunday afternoon and demanded that the person withdraw money and hand it over to him. He fled when a second customer approached the ATM.
Kool-aid man!
A thief broke into the rear utility room of a business on the 2100 block of Artesia Boulevard over the weekend. The thief then broke through the drywall of the store and entered the business, stealing a cell phone, stereo equipment and cash.
Harbor heist
Someone broke into a boat docked along the 100 block of N. Harbor Drive last weekend by prying off a hasp on the cabin door and making off with fishing gear, a pair of binoculars, tool bags and books.
Triple threat
Three cars were stolen in Redondo Beach last week. A 1989 Toyota pickup was stolen from the 1000 block of Pacific Coast Highway last Thursday. A 1979 Mazda RX-7 was last seen on the 2400 block of Rockefeller Street Monday, March 19. A 1995 Lexus ES300 was stolen from the 400 block of Garnet Street the night of Sunday, March 18. ER