Full Notification

On 10/15/19 at approximately 10:38pm, an officer conducted a traffic stop on Imperial Highway near California Street. During the traffic stop, it was discovered that the driver had a suspended drivers license and a warrant for his arrest for vehicle theft. Inside of the car officers found an automobile component known as a catalytic converter that appeared to have been sawed off of a vehicle (catalytic converters are often stolen by thieves and resold for the precious metals they contain). Other items found inside included a floor jack, an electric saw, multiple saw blades, paperwork belonging to a recently recovered stolen car and a pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.

Based upon the totality of the circumstances, the driver and his two passengers were arrested on the suspicion of committing various theft related crimes.

Carlos Alfaro-Carranza (24), Jose Campanero (39) from Los Angeles and Marvin Cortez (29) from South Gate were booked at the El Segundo Police Department. The suspects were in a 2001 green Mitsubishi Galant.

Detectives are currently trying to identify the owner of the catalytic converter found inside of the suspects’ car. If anyone has information possibly related to this crime please contact Detective Jeff Darringer at (310) 524-2200 or [email protected] (Case#: 19-2614).