Buena Park Man with AR Rifle, 9 mm Handgun, and Narcotics Arrested in Santa Monica; His Accomplice at Large

11/28/21: At about 7:15 PM, Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) Officers respond to the 900blk of Ocean Ave. regarding a suspicious vehicle. When officers arrived, they located the vehicle, a black Jeep, leaving the area. An officer witnessed the vehicle commit several vehicle code violations. When the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed and crashed, striking several parked vehicles and a tree in the 1000 block of 2nd Street. The two occupants fled on foot. However, only one was located a short time after.

A subsequent search of the suspect vehicle revealed a loaded short barrel AR type rifle, a loaded 9mm handgun and a large amount of narcotics. The driver of the vehicle, Ken Lee Fernandez, a 22-year-old male of Buena Park, was booked on weapons and narcotics charges along with delaying and obstructing arrest.

The passenger and outstanding suspect is described as a 20 to 25-year-old Black male, 5'10" – 6'2", thin build, dark complexion, wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt and black sweatpants.

Anyone with any information pertaining to this incident is strongly encouraged to contact Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Detective Khansari at 310-458-4248, Detective McGowan at 310-458-4698 or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8426.